First aid for broken finger

Fracture of the finger may occur from impact, compression, torsion, extension backwards, falling off the finger of a heavy object. If the fracture is combined with a simultaneous dislocation of the joint, it is called “perelomova”.

The nature of injuries of the skin are open fractures (where bone fragments break the skin) and closed (when the skin integrity is not broken). Changing the position of the bone fragments relative to each other lengthens the time of treatment of the fracture. Fractures without displacement of bone don't leave the shell of the periosteum, fractures with displacement, the periosteum is damaged, bone fragments are moved relative to each other and may injure the surrounding soft tissues, vessels, joints.

The easiest to recover are considered incomplete fractures, cracked bones. The most difficult is a comminuted fracture, which formed small fragments of bones. If the fracture line is blurred, for example, the crushing of the bone, this fracture is called “compression”. Usually this type of injury occurs when falling on the fingers is very heavy solid objects, such as stones, bricks. Sometimes a compression fracture contributes to a powerful punch with a hammer. An important step in the treatment of a fracture is first aid. For taking the correct measures you must have at least a General idea about the anatomy of the fingers of the person.

The finger of man and the features of fractures

Finger counting starts with big numbers are assigned from first to fifth. Each finger. except the first, has three bones that are called “phalanges”. Phalanges are short tubular bones, they are named according to the degree of remoteness from the bones of the metacarpus, that is, the palm. The nearest is proximal, then the middle and the far distal. Each end of the proximal and middle phalanx articular surface feature, which is joint and flexible way articulates with the other phalanges.

Fracture of phalanx of finger can occur inside the joint and outside. Combined fractures - this injury, which simultaneously involves several bones, for example, the distal and middle phalanges. Despite the fact that the first toe has only two phalanges, he is a leader in the number of fractures. Because of the arrangement on the thumb every day have significant load.

A fracture of the big toe often is the method of extension in the opposite direction and combining with dislocation. The joints of the fingers allows them to bend and unbendonly in one plane and up to a certain limit. If you violate these restrictions is injury of the joint.

In the context of a bone of a finger is an elongated formation with a Central canal that contains the bone marrow. The Central part of the bone covered with fabric with a large number of blood vessels and nerves, periosteum. This fabric allows the bone to grow outwards and is involved in fracture healing. For bone growth in length is responsible for the strip of cloth between the Central part (diaphysis) and the end parts of bones (epiphysis). This formation is called the “metaphysis”.

The peculiar structure of the fingers is a strong muscular frame, which normally holds the phalanx on the inside, not allowing to develop open fractures and displaced fractures. At the ends of the phalanges are thickening, which serve for attachment of muscles and ligaments.

A list of the names of the ligaments of the brush includes over 20 titles. During the fingers involved collateral, which connect the lateral sides of the proximal phalanges and the heads of the metacarpal bones. The joints located between the phalanges have their own set of collateral ligaments, similarly connecting them with the adjacent phalanges.

Symptoms, particularly when the fracture

A comminuted fracture is when the ligaments and joints can suffer, because fragments of tubular bones are very sharp. The importance of the ligamentous apparatus is further strengthening the provisions of the joint capsule, making the man's fingers strong and flexible. It is the exercise of the collateral ligaments can keep your joints from dislocation in flexion of the finger at the banned from the point of view of the anatomy of the angle.

Clinical practice confirms that people, whose professional activity is associated with fine motor skills and strength exercises for the muscles of the fingers, less prone to fractures of the phalanges.

Muscles receive a signal to reduce or to relax from nerve endings that can be damaged during fracture. How to spot this damage:

• numbness, loss of sensation on certain areas of the skin;
• any difficulty in flexion and extension finger;
• periodic painful muscle cramps;
• paralysis of the finger, inability to control muscles, the sensitivity in this case may how be absent and present;
• a fine tremor of muscles, reflex twitching.

These symptoms of a broken finger may indicate damage to the nerve bundle, which isquite a serious complication, which will require long treatment. According to statistics, this case cannot be called common, but the broken finger requires specific effects. A more popular injury is dislocation, fractures predominate among the elderly, in which bone tissue becomes brittle, and muscle strength is not enough.

The child's fracture may occur for the same reason, the bones more fragile, because grow in width and in length, and muscular system is not developed. The advantage of the children that they have a fast regeneration of bone tissue, and repositions the recovery will come quickly.

First aid for fractures of the fingers

The greatest danger to human health is an open fracture. It can get staphylococcal, streptococcal, pyogenic, fungal or any other infection, which will lead to inflammatory process.

Disinfection of the wound need to mild antiseptics, e.g. chlorhexidine. Then apply a sterile gauze to stop bleeding. The second phase of the emergency when the finger fracture fixation of the phalanges.

For this purpose you can use any solid object, any size, sticks from ice cream, a nail file, even a fork.

Gently with a bandage, gauze, piece of cloth the finger is attached to a rigid surface. If the fracture is multiple, it is better to use a wider platform, for example, the plastic cover from the container for food storage. Very common fracture of the little finger, it is better to fix on the brush, including in the area of immobilization of entire hand. In a separate fracture of the nameless, middle or index in the absence of the right tire, you can fix damaged finger relatively healthy. The sequence of actions in complex fracture:

• call for emergency medical care.
• stop bleeding;
• immobilization of the affected finger.
• pain relief;
• ice pack;
• hospitalization in the emergency room for diagnosis.

If the person who renders first aid, not sure that his actions will benefit, you should not try to stop the bleeding and apply a splint. Inept first aid may lead to displacement of bone fragments and complicate the treatment.

If possible, you can independently deliver the victim to the emergency room. The analgesia produced with the help of medications from home or cara first aid kit. You should use nonnarcotic pain relievers for example, Nurofen, paracetamol.

Ice pack can be made from the package with the food ice, frozen piece of meat, bottle of ice cold water. Cooling takes place to reduce sensitivity and relieve swelling and narrowing of the blood vessels at the site of injury. To diagnose a fracture must trauma.

Signs of a broken finger

At home it is better not to practice in diagnosis, and to entrust it to professionals. Not to ponder over how to define a finger fracture, the doctor makes x-ray examination. The symptoms are an additional confirmation of the clinical picture. How to spot the fracture?

• a sharp pain in the place of split bone;
• swelling of the surrounding tissues;
• change the color of the skin, paleness, redness;
• abnormal mobility in fractures with displacement;
• subcutaneous hematoma.

The fingers of the hands contain numerous nerve endings, so fractures are normally very painful, their signs are impossible to miss. When fracture of the distal phalanx of the hematoma and captures the nail plate, sometimes under it accumulates a large amount of liquid and coagulated blood. The treatment is done under anesthesia by the method of puncture of the nail plate. The sequence of actions of the trauma surgeon when assisting in the fracture of the fingers is as follows:

• pain relief;
• diagnosis, clarification of the position of the bone fragments;
• operational measures, reduction, perforation of the nail plate;
• the superimposition of a locking member in the form of used other pills or plaster splints.

If the fracture occurred without displacement, prompt action is taken. Then the surgeon makes recommendations for the care of an injured finger, is discussed in the course of rehabilitation. The speed of healing of a fracture depends on several factors:

• the presence of complications such as infection, trauma, articular-ligamentous apparatus.
• the rate of regeneration of the bone tissue;
• the type of fracture.

On average, the plaster should be worn from two to six weeks. Sometimes when you reposition the spokes are used for fixation of bone fragments.

Recovery after broken finger

After removing the retainer, you need to tone muscles, develop joints. Usually the attending physician prescribes a set of exercises taking into account the specifics of the injury, which the victim performs independently at home or in a hospital underthe guidance of a qualified specialist. Before removing the plaster it is possible to practice isotonic muscle tension, i.e. the tension without movement. A week after the injury already can be assigned to procedures such as:

• the impact of interference currents;
• ultraviolet irradiation.

After two, four weeks, if progress in treatment is obvious, the following rehabilitation measures:

• magnetic and laser therapy;
• the impact of ultra-high frequencies;
• ultrasound with hydrocortisone;
• therapeutic massage of the injured finger;
• independent exercises to develop fine motor skills of hands.

If the repositioning is carried out properly, the patient is responsible for the rehabilitation period, there are no complications with the healing of even open fractures of the fingers does not occur. To prevent injury you should first take care that the diet contain sufficient amounts of magnesium, calcium, vitamins D and E. Those who are engaged in Amateur sports, it is important not to miss warm-up before playing or training. A fracture of the distal phalanx may occur when taking the ball in basketball or volleyball, weak muscles can't make the pass, and brittle bones break from the impact.

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Before performing repair work, especially professional builders should have a good rest and sleep.

Another common cause of fracture of distal phalanx is hit with a sledgehammer or regular hammer inadvertently, which may cause severe fragmentation of the bone, a compression fracture. Even in the most difficult circumstances, timely treatment for medical assistance guarantees the absence of sepsis, which is fatal. Treatment of fractures of the finger to modern medicine does not seem to be a serious problem and can be performed with success.