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  • Finger Injuries
Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine
About Us
Conditions We Treat
Achilles Tendonitis
ACL Injuries
AC Joint Injury (Shoulder Separation)
Ankle Sprain
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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
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Chronic Tendon Pain
Clavicle Fracture
Colles Fracture
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Degenerative Joint Disease
Diabetic Foot Disease
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Dupuytren's Contracture
Elbow Sprain
Ewings Sarcoma
Femoroacetabular Impingement
Finger Injuries
Flat Feet
Foot Pain
Foot Ulcer
Fractures & Breaks
Frozen Shoulder
Giant Cell Tumor
Golfers Elbow
Hammer Toes
Hip Dysplasia
Hip Pointer
Instability
IT Band Syndrome
Jones Fracture
Labral Tear
Lisfranc Injury
Low Back Pain
Lower Body Pain
Malunion & Nonunion
MCL & LCL Injuries
Meniscus Tear
Metastatic Bone Disease
Morton's Neuroma
Neck Pain
Necrotizing Fasciitis
Nerve Compression
Numbness & Weakness
Osgood Schlatter
Osteosarcoma
Patellar Tendonitis
Patellofemoral Pain
Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Injury
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Rotator Cuff Tears
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Severs Disease
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Shoulder Dislocation
Shoulder Impingement
Shoulder Pain
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Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine
About Us
Conditions We Treat
Achilles Tendonitis
ACL Injuries
AC Joint Injury (Shoulder Separation)
Ankle Sprain
Avascular Necrosis
Bicep Tendonitis
Bone Cancer
Bone Cysts
Bone Spurs
Bone Tumor
Brachial Plexus Injuries
Bulging Discs
Bunions
Burners & Stingers
Bursitis
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Chondrosarcoma
Chordoma
Chronic Tendon Pain
Clavicle Fracture
Colles Fracture
Concussion
Contractures
Degenerative Joint Disease
Diabetic Foot Disease
Dislocations
Dupuytren's Contracture
Elbow Sprain
Ewings Sarcoma
Femoroacetabular Impingement
Finger Injuries
Flat Feet
Foot Pain
Foot Ulcer
Fractures & Breaks
Frozen Shoulder
Giant Cell Tumor
Golfers Elbow
Hammer Toes
Hip Dysplasia
Hip Pointer
Instability
IT Band Syndrome
Jones Fracture
Labral Tear
Lisfranc Injury
Low Back Pain
Lower Body Pain
Malunion & Nonunion
MCL & LCL Injuries
Meniscus Tear
Metastatic Bone Disease
Morton's Neuroma
Neck Pain
Necrotizing Fasciitis
Nerve Compression
Numbness & Weakness
Osgood Schlatter
Osteosarcoma
Patellar Tendonitis
Patellofemoral Pain
Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Injury
Plantar Fasciitis
PVNS
Rotator Cuff Tears
Scaphoid (Wrist) Fracture
Severs Disease
Shin Splints
Shoulder Dislocation
Shoulder Impingement
Shoulder Pain
Soft Tissue Sarcoma
Sports Hernia
Sprains & Strains
Tendon & Ligament Injuries
Tendonitis
Tennis Elbow
Trochanteric Bursitis
Turf Toe
Upper Body Pain
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Finger and Hand Injuries

Hand and finger injuries include a range of conditions, including fractures, sprains, and cuts. You may have a finger or hand injury as a result of an accident, sports activity, or repetitive strain. Hand and finger injuries can lead to pain, swelling, and impaired function. If you have a finger or hand injury contact your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.

Looking for Finger and Hand Injury Care?

Related services include:

  • Orthopaedics.
  • Sports Medicine.
  • Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy.

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On this page

  • What Are Common Finger and Hand Injuries?
  • What Are the Symptoms of Finger and Hand Injuries?
  • How Do You Diagnose Finger and Hand Injuries?
  • How Do You Treat Finger and Hand Injuries?

What Are Common Finger and Hand Injuries?

Finger and hand injuries are common among athletes.

Hand and finger injuries occur most often in contact sports, such as those that involve catching a ball or using hand equipment like ski poles, or common sports, like basketball and volleyball. They also occur in high-speed sports like skating and biking.

Common acute finger and hand injuries include:

  • Bruises
  • Ligament damage, such as skier's thumb
  • Tendon injuries, such as mallet finger
  • Joint sprains
  • Muscle strains
  • Fractures
  • Dislocations
  • Crushing injuries

You can also injure your finger or hand from overuse. Overuse injuries include carpal tunnel syndrome and tendinosis.

Any finger or hand injury requires proper treatment to ensure you have no permanent loss of function or deformity.

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What Are the Symptoms of Finger and Hand Injuries?

Injured hand and finger symptoms rarely go unnoticed.

Symptoms of finger injuries (below) can help you tell the difference between a jammed finger and a broken finger.

The most common symptoms of hand and finger injuries are:

  • Pain at the injury point or in your fingers.
  • Inability to move the finger.
  • Limited hand motion.
  • Deformity.
  • Swelling.
  • Bruising.
  • Weakness of the hand.

Tendon pain in the hand may be a sign of tendinosis — a series of very small tears in the tissue surrounding that tendon.


How Are Finger and Hand Injuries Diagnosed?

Because there's a wide range of finger and hand injuries, your doctor will start with a physical exam.

He or she will check:

  • How well you can move your finger.
  • The strength in your fingers or hands.
  • For visual signs of the injury.

Your doctor will also:

  • Discuss your medical history.
  • Ask how and when you injured your finger or hand.
  • Order an x-ray or other imaging scan if he or she suspects a fracture or serious injury.

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What Are the Treatment Options for Finger and Hand Injuries?

Nonsurgical Treatment Options

When you hurt your finger or hand, rest and ice are often the first treatments for broken finger care. You can also take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain.

For injuries that don’t require surgery, your doctor may treat your finger or hand problem with a:

  • Splint or “buddy taping.” This involves taping one finger to another to keep it from moving.
  • Cast.
  • Brace.

After your finger or hand injury starts to heal, your doctor may prescribe physical therapy.

Surgical Treatment Options

Your doctor will take x-rays to see if you need surgery for a broken finger or broken hand.

In some cases — such as fractures or torn tendons — you may need surgery to repair the damage and restore function to your fingers or hand.

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