Fingers that are injured due to dislocation of the knuckle joints are painful! Fortunately, this complaint is not a serious injury and can be overcome with the help of a doctor. Fingers can be injured if they are bumped or pulled in a direction opposite to the finger's natural movement direction, causing one or more of the knuckles to protrude from the joint space. Often, the fingers are dislocated during an accident while playing sports, working, or driving a vehicle. The best way to heal an injured finger is to see a doctor as soon as possible, rather than trying to fix it yourself.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Coping with Finger Joint Dislocation
Step 1. Pay attention to the condition of the injured finger
Is the finger bent in an abnormal direction, painful, or immobile? Usually, a dislocated finger cannot be moved because the joint is shifted. In addition, the shape and direction of the fingers are abnormal. In addition to pain and swelling, the color of the finger becomes pale. Occasionally, the injured finger may tingle or become numb if the condition is severe enough.
Immediately see a doctor if a finger joint dislocation occurs, especially if it starts to swell and feels very painful. Make sure you get the right diagnosis because dislocated finger joints can cause bone fractures
Step 2. Remove the jewelery from the injured finger
The finger begins to swell as the joint shifts. If you're wearing a ring (or other piece of jewelry), remove it immediately so it doesn't get stuck on your finger and block blood flow. If the ring is difficult to remove, apply a small amount of lotion, liquid soap, or vegetable oil to your finger.
It is possible that the doctor will cut the ring if it cannot be removed
Step 3. Compress the injured finger with a cold object to reduce swelling
Once a finger joint dislocation occurs, immediately place a bag filled with ice or frozen gel on the injured finger. When applying pressure, make sure your finger is free of pressure so as not to aggravate the injury. This step prevents the finger from getting swollen and reduces pain.
If there is no ice pack or frozen gel, wrap 5-6 ice cubes in a small towel and place them on the injured finger
Step 4. Raise the injured hand so that it is higher than the heart
While continuing to compress the finger with a cold object, raise the injured hand to at least shoulder level. Keep your hands in position until you see a doctor. Use hand support so that the arm muscles do not get sore. For example, while sitting in the car going to the doctor's office, place the injured hand on the back of the chair.
If the hand is not raised, the volume of blood in the injured finger increases. This condition can cause blood vessels to burst or bleeding in the finger to get worse
Part 2 of 3: Seeing the Doctor
Step 1. See a doctor as soon as the finger joint is displaced
In contrast to a sprain (which can be treated with home remedies), the way to treat a dislocated finger joint is much more difficult. Do not try to restore a dislocated joint as this can make the injury worse. Make sure you see a doctor as soon as possible. If the injury is very severe, doctors are able to restore the knuckle joint with certain methods.
- If the injury occurs in the middle of the night or a holiday, see a doctor on duty at the hospital. You do not need to see an orthopedic specialist if you have a dislocated finger joint, unless the condition is very severe.
- The doctor is able to reposition the displaced joint. Before doing therapy, there is a possibility that the doctor will administer local anesthesia or give pain medication to drink.
Step 2. Get an X-ray to find out how badly the finger joint is displaced and confirm a bone fracture
It is possible that your doctor may ask you to undergo an X-ray so that he can determine the most appropriate therapy. Usually, hospitals provide X-rays so you don't need to consult an orthopedic specialist. After looking at X-rays, the doctor can determine whether there is a broken finger bone or bone fragments in the joint.
Do not worry! If your doctor asks you to have an X-ray, it doesn't mean that the dislocation of the finger joint is very severe. Doctors need to see the condition of the dislocated bones and joints before starting therapy
Step 3. Consider the option of having surgery if other methods cannot reposition the finger joints
You will need surgery if the dislocation of the finger joint is severe, there is a bone fracture, or the cartilage layer in the joint is displaced by injury. Usually, the operation is done by making a small incision. You can go home after surgery.
The doctor will give a local anesthetic to numb the finger because the operation to reposition the joint is very painful
Part 3 of 3: Caring for Fingers Until Healing
Step 1. Put a splint with a layer of foam rubber on the finger for 3-6 weeks until the bone is connected or the finger is completely healed
After repositioning the finger joint (with or without surgery), the doctor will place a splint with a foam rubber layer that must be placed on the finger. The splint functions to wrap the injured finger so that it does not move so that it recovers faster. Wear the splint as directed by your doctor until the finger is completely healed.
Instead of giving a splint, the doctor may apply a bandage to wrap the injured finger along with 1 finger on the side so that the finger can't be moved as if wearing a splint
Step 2. Compress the injured finger with a cold object for 30 minutes every 3-4 hours
Remove the splint, then place a cold object on the injured finger for at least 20 minutes. Do this step every 3-4 hours or at least 3 times a day. The finger should be compressed for 2-3 days to heal by itself and prevent complications due to swelling.
Purchase a compress at a pharmacy or through a website
Step 3. Keep your hands at shoulder level as often as possible for 2-3 weeks
This step is useful for reducing inflammation and speeding up recovery. So, try to raise your arms to shoulder height or higher as often as possible during your daily activities if circumstances permit. For example, support your hands with a few pillows while sitting on the couch or lying on the bed.
While sitting in the office or in class, stack a few books and place your hands on them
Step 4. Undergo physiotherapy as directed by the doctor
After a 3-4 week recovery period, your doctor may recommend that you do physiotherapy independently to strengthen the muscle tissue and ligaments of your fingers by doing repetitive stretching and clenching movements. If your finger joint dislocation is severe, you may need to undergo physiotherapy with the help of a licensed physical therapist.
The finger heals faster and the pain goes away faster if you follow the doctor's instructions and undergo therapy consistently
Step 5. Talk to your doctor if your finger still hurts after you can remove the splint
Bone and ligament restoration takes a lot of time. So, be patient if the finger feels sore for about 4-6 weeks. See a doctor if your finger is still sore after 6 weeks to find out how to fix it.
Your doctor may prescribe a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug or medication to relieve pain and swelling. Before taking the drug, make sure you read the information on the packaging and follow the recommended dosage
Tips
- Be aware that all three finger joints can be dislocated, but the joint in the middle (the medical term PIP or proximal interphalangeal joint) is most susceptible to injury.
- If you have a very severe finger joint dislocation, your doctor will refer you to an orthopedic specialist who will treat your finger until it heals and reposition the bone if necessary.
