Finger Fractures and Hand Pain

Sometimes, fractures to the smallest bones result in the biggest pain, both in the literal and figurative sense. Such is the case with fractures to the fingers, which can cause extreme hand pain.

When your finger becomes fractured, your entire hand becomes misaligned while the fractured finger becomes painful, swollen and stiff. You will be unable to perform many activities with the injury.

And then there’s the fact that the most common fracture – approximately one-third of all hand fractures among adults – happen in the metacarpal bone leading to the little finger. The bone may be small in size but the impact can be anything but minor.

Among athletes, a fractured finger can be the result of breaking a fall, jamming the fingers when catching an object (e.g., ball), and colliding with others. But regardless of the cause, the symptoms of a fractured finger are similar, including swelling, bruising and tenderness at the fractured site as well as inability to move it normally and deformity.

When you suspect a finger fracture, talk to a hand specialist at any of the Healthpointe clinics, such as our Anaheim clinic (near Fullerton, Placentia, Villa Park, Buena Park, Cypress, Cerritos, and Garden Grove).

Be honest about the circumstances behind your finger fracture. Your doctor has to determine two things, namely, which bone was fractured and how it was fractured. Your bone will fracture in several ways – straight across, into several pieces, in a spiral or completely shattered – and your doctor will make adjustments to your treatment accordingly.

Your doctor will also perform diagnostic procedures, such as X-rays and physical examination, to determine the nature and extent of your injury. The fractured bone may overlap with its neighbors, or may be angled in the wrong direction, or may be too short, among other possibilities.

Once your doctor determines the nature of your finger fracture, you can discuss the appropriate non-surgical and surgical treatments, if any. In case of mild to moderate fractures, you will be fitted with either a cast or a splint to hold the fractured finger and its adjoining fingers in place while the former heals. You may have to wear the splint or cast for 3 weeks.

To learn more, call any of the Healthpointe clinics, such as the Garden Grove clinic, which is also open for patients from the Stanton, Santa Ana, and Westminster areas.

About Healthpointe:

Healthpointe is a leading multidisciplinary healthcare organization offering a full range of medical services in practice locations throughout Southern California (Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Bernardino County, and Riverside County). Healthpointe has locations situated in over 10 cities in Southern California including Anaheim, which is conveniently located by Fullerton, Placentia, Villa Park, Buena Park, Cypress, Cerritos, and Garden Grove. As a highly regarded musculoskeletal group, we have a personal investment in the highest level of service, and we are proud of our record of excellence over the last four decades with private patients, injured workers, urgent care, personal injuries, and professional and non-professional athletes. Leading our organization is a dynamic team of healthcare professionals who continually strive to be at the forefront of medical innovation and healthcare service delivery. For more information, a complete list of services, and Healthpointe locations, visit Healthpointe.net.