Overview
This common condition is a fracture or break of one or more of the bones of the finger called a phalanx, or phalanges. A finger fracture may be nondisplaced, in which the bones remain aligned, or displaced, in which the fractured ends shift out of alignment. Improper finger alignment can affect normal hand function.
Causes
Finger fractures are caused by trauma to the hand. This trauma is usually a bending, twisting, or compression force to the finger. Common causes include a sharp blow, crush, or twisting injury to the hand or fingers, a fall, and being hit in the fingers with a ball while playing sports.
Symptoms
Symptoms typically include pain, swelling, and tenderness of the broken finger. Symptoms may also include a difficulty moving the injured finger, bruising, and deformity or malrotation of the finger, known as scissoring.
Treatment
The most common form of treatment is placing the hand in a cast or splint while the finger heals. The finger may also be taped to the finger next to it to prevent rotation of the finger in the cast. If the fracture ends are misaligned, surgery is often necessary to realign the fracture ends and hold them in place with pins or plates and screws.
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