Broken finger?

[ZachnElli]

So my DH had to have broken his finger, his right hand ring finger. When he holds his hand flat, the finger dangles down and slightly crooked, the whole tip of it. He wont go to the doctor, he says they wont do anything for it, he's looking for a popsicle stick and he's just going to tape it himself! He's totally cracking me up, I have to admit! Obviously , it's not hurting very much, he says it hurts a little. Do they do anything for a broken finger, I know they dont for toes, but what about finger?

 

[DisDance]

In my experience there is nothing you can do for it. The Popsicle stick taping is a good idea or you can buy one of the finger braces at the drug store

 

[Disney Doll]

They might splint it, which he can do with a popsicle stick.
If he's wearing a ring on that finger, tell him to take it off in case it swells.

 

[minkydog]

If it's not hurting or grossly deformed, he can just tape it with the popsicle stick for a week or so and see how it does. Sometimes they do stuff for fingers but often they don't, other than stabilizing it. Christian actually broke one of my fingers, twisted it so I had a spiral fracture. It hurt like a booger and I couldn't use the finger. So I went to the ER and got a real medical stabilizer. It took me 6 weeks to be able to use the finger properly and it's crooked to this day. But other than the fact that it's a little bent, I hardly even notice it.

 

[mikehn]

at least he can still use his middle finger if needed

 

[ZachnElli]

I will run by a drugstore tomorrow to look for a finger splint. He did it 2 days ago so it's obviously not bothering him too much. He was in and out of meetings all day and said he showed it to everyone, lol. It's not swollen or bruised. Just a total "show and tell" thing to him!

 

[HelenePA]

Not true! I had to have pins put in my pinky to have it heal correctly! GO TO THE DOCTOR!!!

 

[Handbag Lady]

Not true! I had to have pins put in my pinky to have it heal correctly! GO TO THE DOCTOR!!!

I was going to say the same thing. My best friend just recovered from a broken finger. She had to have pins in it and a brace for the rest of her hand.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

I might ignore a toe if it was broken but I would have a finger looked at by a doctor. It may need to be set properly.

 

[Disney Ella]

When I broke my finger, my doctor gave me a bent splint and told me to exercise the finger (by bending it) twice a day. I think the exercise was to prevent the tendons from tightening too much while the finger was immobile. As other posters have said, it would be a good idea to go to a doctor and get an X-ray to find out where the break is and how severe.

 

[MSLRAC]

Not true! I had to have pins put in my pinky to have it heal correctly! GO TO THE DOCTOR!!!

DD9 had to have pins in her index finger when she broke it too. I'd have it checked out just in case.

 

[Christine]

A finger is actually not like a toe.

My son broke his finger (the tip of the ring finger) in March. I didn't think it was a break so we waited about 4 days before going in. His finger kind of "hung" like that too.

It was a complex fracture and it was broken all the way through. When they put a splint on that was "like a popsicle stick", that made it worse and made the break separate farther. They ended up having to put a splint on top of the finger that was slightly bent so that his finger was always a wee-bit curved and this pushed the break together.

The orthopedist said that if we had neglected it, it still would have healed on it's own but would have healed crooked and he would have had trouble with that finger all his life.

I actually think your husband should go into an orthopedist and be seen. They are very quick.

 

[cab0899]

Soundly like it could be a mallet finger which is a torn extensor tendon rather than a broken bone. Hand injuries are much more complicated than people realize. I would seek medical attention for it.

 

[yoopermom]

As someone who posted recently whining about a cortisone injection in my finger due to a ligament injury, I would HIGHLY suggest seeing a hand specialist ASAP. My dr told me that a broken bone is one thing, but if you happen to have a ligament injury also/instead of, it can cause serious problems and take a long time to heal. I waited too long (like six months), taped it, etc, and really paid the price when I finally went in (and am still waiting to hear if I may have to have surgery)...

Terri

 

[HelenePA]

btw when I broke my finger it didn't really "hurt" it was sore and stiff. I knew something was wrong though.. very wrong. He should really go get it checked out.

 

[Imzadi]

Not true! I had to have pins put in my pinky to have it heal correctly! GO TO THE DOCTOR!!!

I might ignore a toe if it was broken but I would have a finger looked at by a doctor. It may need to be set properly.

The orthopedist said that if we had neglected it, it still would have healed on it's own but would have healed crooked and he would have had trouble with that finger all his life.

I actually think your husband should go into an orthopedist and be seen. They are very quick.

I was actually going to recommend an orthopedist.

 

[MickeySP]

So my DH had to have broken his finger, his right hand ring finger. When he holds his hand flat, the finger dangles down and slightly crooked, the whole tip of it. He wont go to the doctor, he says they wont do anything for it, he's looking for a popsicle stick and he's just going to tape it himself! He's totally cracking me up, I have to admit! Obviously , it's not hurting very much, he says it hurts a little. Do they do anything for a broken finger, I know they dont for toes, but what about finger?

The bolded is not a straight break, it is not normal for that type of malformation.

Soundly like it could be a mallet finger which is a torn extensor tendon rather than a broken bone. Hand injuries are much more complicated than people realize. I would seek medical attention for it.

I totally agree. One of the little gifts of broken digits is lovely and ravaging arthritis as you age.

He should see a specialist, at the very least have an Xray. A couple hours now to prevent arthritis or worse later - easy trade off.

 

[Bluestars]

I agree with the other people and recommend that he go get it checked out. My son had his finger smashed in a door. I took him to the ER and they did an X-Ray. I was told that his finger wasn't broken. I thought all was well. It turned out that his finger was broken, but by the time we realized it, the bone started to stick out the side. He had surgery to correct it, but his finger will never be straight. Thankfully it was his pinkie and it's not noticeable unless he stretches out his hand.

Your husband can prevent this from happening by getting the proper treatment.

 

[cheer25mom]

I think he needs to have it looked at. I agree with PPs who said that doesn't sound like a straight break. My first thought was that there is tendon or ligament involvement with it just hanging like that.

 

[cbg1027]

He definitely NEEDS to see a doctor, and I agree an orthopedist would be best.

I broke my finger falling off my horse when I was a a teenager. I thought it was no big deal, was ready to get back on, but when I saw how the finger was shaped at a really unnatural angle, I called my mom and we went straight to the ER. They took x-rays and put a splint on it and referred me to the orthopedist for the next day because it was a very complicated fracture.

I had to have it set, and it was not fun. The cast went up my elbow in order to prevent movement at the wrist which would make the finger bones slide out of their setting. At my check up, they had anyway and I had to have my poor finger set AGAIN.

I don't have full use of that finger now - It doesn't help me with typing since I can't bend it at the last joint, and it doesn't help with gripping anything either.

If he wants to have a hope of maintaining use in his finger, he had better go to the dr ASAP!!!!!