Submitted By Arthur C. Rettig M.D.
09.03.2009

Recognizing and Treating a Finger Dislocation

One of the most common injuries associated with sports and everyday activities is a dislocated finger. Although a finger dislocation may not appear to be a serious injury, it should not be ignored. It is not a good idea to continue to play through the pain because a more serious medical condition such as a bone fracture could be present.
When a joint is dislocated, the ligaments and joint capsule surrounding the joint are torn. This commonly occurs in the middle of the knuckle of the ring, middle or index finger. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent and treat a dislocated finger so that it does not turn into a serious health concern.

• Prevent a dislocated finger: It is important to use the correct technique when playing a sport and utilize protective hand equipment, whenever appropriate. Also, you should try to avoid getting your finger caught in equipment or a jersey, or “jamming” your finger with a baseball or basketball. Various exercises can be performed to strengthen the hand and fingers as well as increase the range of motion. These preventative measures will decrease your chance of experiencing a dislocated finger.

• Recognize the signs:  Symptoms include a bent or crooked finger along with pain, swelling and/or bruising. Sometimes the finger will be dislocated and also have an open wound. In almost all cases, the finger bones have moved away from each other, making the finger look abnormally aligned.

• Take proper care of the finger: If you dislocate your finger, apply an ice pack, elevate the hand above the heart, remove all jewelry on the hand and visit an orthopedic hand specialist for an evaluation. Do not to try to manipulate the joint back into place because this may cause further damage to the bones and joints. If someone does realign the joint on the playing field, seek medical attention from a physician to be sure the bones are stable and not fractured.

A dislocated finger is usually not cause for alarm, but it can be more severe than a simple sprain. The doctor will put the joint back into place and the finger will be splinted to heal torn ligaments and the joint capsule. You can return to your sport once your dislocated finger has been realigned, your doctor has confirmed that the injured joint is stable and that no bone is fractured, and your finger tenderness and swelling have improved. If conditions do not improve through non-surgical treatment, it is important to follow up with your orthopedic specialist to determine if surgery is needed.