Overview

A dislocated finger is caused by:

• a jamming force applied to the end of the finger
• finger being forcefully twisted or bent
• finger being overextended

Risk factors that increase your chances of dislocating a finger include:

• contact sports
• previous finger dislocation or sprain
• catching a ball on the tip of the finger

Diagnosis

Symptoms of a finger dislocation include:

• severe pain
• crooked or awkwardly bent finger
• swelling and bruising in the injured area
• numbness and/or tingling of the finger
• inability to bend or straighten the finger

The doctor will ask about your symptoms and how the injury occurred, and examine the injured finger. He may order an x-ray to confirm the dislocation and see if there are any broken bones.

Treatment Options

Do not try to put your finger bones back into place. Seek medical care immediately. Delaying treatment increases the chance of permanent damage to the joint.

Treatment includes:

• realigning the bones
  The doctor will move the finger bones back into place. You may be given an injection of local anaesthesia that will help reduce the pain while the doctor moves the bones.
• splint or taping
  After the doctor has realigned the bones, your finger will be placed in a splint or taped to the healthy finger next to it.
• ice
  Apply ice or a cold pack to your finger for 15 to 30 minutes, three to four times a day for several days. This helps reduce pain and swelling. Wrap the ice or cold pack in a towel. Do not apply the ice directly to your skin.
• elevation
  Try to hold the injured hand above the level of your heart as much as possible for the first 24 hours. (For example, up on a pillow). This will help drain fluid and reduce swelling.
• rehabilitation exercises
  Begin exercises to restore range of motion and strength in your finger as recommended by your health care professional.

Prevention

To help prevent a finger dislocation:

• Wear proper padding and safety equipment when participating in sports or activities.
• Do not break a fall with an outstretched arm.

How can I prevent a dislocated finger?

To help prevent a finger dislocation:

• Wear proper padding and safety equipment when participating in sports or activities.
• Do not break a fall with an outstretched arm.

Improving Sports Performance

The key to improving sports performance after recovering from a dislocated finger is a proper rehabilitation program, and adhering to some of those same principles after the injury is gone.

Here are some simple steps to improve your performance:

• Use tape to prevent extension of the finger beyond its normal range of motion (hyperextension).
• Perform the exercises in the rehabilitation section to restore strength and range of motion.

Rehablitation for finger dislocation

As an athlete, your number one concern is getting back to full strength as soon as possible so that you can return to training and competition. That is why appropriate rehabilitation is extremely important. Rehabilitation for a dislocated finger often includes the following:

• Rest
  Avoid using the inured finger.
• Ice
  Apply ice or a cold pack to your finger for 15 to 20 minutes, 4 times a day until swelling and pain are gone. Wrap the ice or cold pack in a towel. Do not apply the ice directly to your skin.
• Compression
  Wrap an elastic compression bandage around the finger to limit swelling.
• Elevation
  Keep the injured finger raised above the level of your heart for 48 hours (such as up on a pillow). This will help drain fluid and reduce swelling.
• Medication
  Use anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen to reduce inflammation and speed up recovery.

Exercises for finger dislocation

Rehabilitation for a dislocated finger is a matter of following prescribed treatment until symptoms disappear. However, the following exercises may aid in restoring strength and range of motion to the injured hand, especially in cases where immobilization of the injured finger is required.

• Ball squeeze
  Place a tennis ball or equivalent in the palm of the injured hand and squeeze as forcefully as pain permits for five seconds. Slowly relax the hand. Rest for five seconds. Repeat 10 times at least three times a day. Generally, the more often the sequence can be repeated in a day, the better. From day to day, pain should subside until the point where the exercise can be done without pain.
• Finger extension
  Place hand, palm forward, on a wall or other flat surface. Press the palm toward the flat surface as fully as pain permits and hold for five seconds. Return to starting position and rest for five seconds. Repeat this sequence 10 times at least three times a day. Generally, the more often the sequence can be repeated in a day, the better. From day to day, pain should subside until the point where the exercise can be done without pain.

How long will the effects of the injury last?

Once the finger is reset, you may need to wear a splint or cast for 3 to 6 weeks; even after this period there may be some pain or swelling, which may persist for weeks.

When can I return to my sport or activity?

In the mildest cases, pain and swelling may last two or more days, despite proper treatment. If the finger is broken, it may take a month or more to return to competition, depending on the severity of the disruption of the joint.

Remember: The goal of rehabilitation is to return you to your sport or activity as soon as is safely possible. If you return too soon you may worsen your injury, which could lead to permanent damage. Return to your activity is determined by how soon your dislocated finger recovers and full range of motion is restored, not by how many days or weeks it has been since your injury occurred.