Types of Finger Injuries
Many types of finger injuries exist and may include:
- Smashed fingertip
- Cuts or lacerations of the finger, finger tip or nail bed injury
- Jammed finger
- Mallet finger-occurs when the extensor tendon is injured or also known as “baseball finger”
- Blood clot under the nail
- Dislocations
- Fractures of the bones in the fingers
These injuries may result in damage to the skin and surface, or they may impact the bones, tendons, pulp (finger tip padded area), or nailbed.
Causes of Fingertip Injuries
Most of us have experienced some form of finger injury and they are often due to home, work and sports accidents. Crush injuries can occur to the tip of the finger or be more serious involving a hammer blow or impact from a falling large object.
Knives, electric tools and power saws are other sources of causes of cuts to the hand and fingers.
Treatment
Dr. Jason Ashford has helped many patients restore their hand and finger function while also treating them to relieve pain and discomfort. As an experienced board certified hand surgeon, he looks forward to helping you or your family regain full range of motion and return to a more normal lifestyle.
During your initial hand physical examination, Dr. Ashford and his team will ask questions about the nature of the injury as well as any past accidents to the effected area. He will test for good blood flow to the area as well as determine how effectively your finger is still working and able to bend and straighten. Dr. Ashford may order an x-ray if he determines you may have a broken bone or fracture.
Specific treatment of the fingertip injury depends on how seriously you have damaged it. Options may include:
- Dressing of the wound
- Splinting of fractures or metal pins for support
- Irrigation and debridement
- Surgery
- Amputation
Treatment also depends on how badly you may have crushed your fingertip or if you have been diagnosed with mallet finger that could involve tendon damage. It ranges from simple dressings if only the outside skin is torn away to more complex surgical repairs in the case of exposed bones and tendons.
Breaks or a fracture of the finger occurs often. It is normally treated with a splint of temporary metal pins to position the bone in proper alignment. In more severe cases of damage and crushing of bone and tissue, the finger may need amputation.
In the case of an injured nail bed or nail bed laceration, blood may be present under the nail that may need to be drained. Drainage is accomplished by placing a small hole in the nail. With seriously injured nail beds, a splint or surgery may be necessary.
Your Road to Recovery
While sensitivity of your finger may be present for many months, you may restore full feeling and sensation in time. However, there are cases where you may experience limited feeling and the appearance of the skin and its texture may remain different.