Broken Finger or Thumb
Broken fingers and thumbs are common bone breaks. They occur due to injury or weakened bones. A healthcare provider will use X-rays to diagnose finger and thumb fractures. Treatments usually include splints or surgery for more severe fractures. Broken fingers and thumbs generally heal well after treatment and rehabilitation.
What is a broken finger or thumb?
A broken finger or thumb occurs when one or more of the bones in your finger or thumb break. Another name for a broken bone is a bone fracture. People often break their fingers and thumbs due to accidents or weakened bones.
Small bones called phalanges make up your finger structure. Each finger contains three phalanges, while your thumb has two. Any of these bones can break. Breaks can also happen in your knuckles, the joints where your finger bones come together.
You can relieve pain from a finger fracture for a short time with ice, pain relievers, elevation and immobilization. But you’ll need to see a healthcare provider as soon as possible for an X-ray. Depending on the type and severity of the fracture, your provider may suggest a splint to stabilize your finger or surgery to repair the break. They may also recommend moving the fracture into a better position, also known as reduction.
What causes a broken finger or thumb?
Most finger fractures and thumb fractures result from injuries. The most common situations that result in broken fingers and thumbs include:
- Having a fast-moving object, like a baseball, hit your hand.
- Putting out your hand to break a fall.
- Slamming your finger or thumb in a drawer or door.
- Trauma that impacts your finger or thumb, like a car accident.
- Using tools like drills, power saws or hammers.
What are the symptoms of a broken finger?
If you fracture your finger, pain is likely the first symptom you’ll notice. Your finger may also look oddly shaped or out of alignment. Other broken finger symptoms may include:
- Bruising.
- Deformity.
- Problems bending or moving your finger.
- Redness.
- Stiffness.
- Swelling.
- Tenderness.
You may still be able to move your finger or thumb even though it’s broken. But moving it will usually hurt. Sometimes, the pain will be dull, and other times, it may be severe.
You should still see a provider even if you can tolerate the pain. The chances of successful treatment increase the sooner your treatment starts. Some symptoms, like numbness or trouble moving your fingers, mean you need to see a provider as soon as possible to limit damage. If a bone breaks through your skin (an open or compound fracture), you should seek immediate care to prevent complications and start treatment.
People with calcium deficiencies or weakened bones are at higher risk of finger and thumb fractures. Fractures are also more likely to occur due to:
- Infection.
- Lack of calcium (calcium deficiency) or vitamin D (vitamin D deficiency).
- Metabolic bone disease.
- Malnutrition.
- Osteomalacia.
- Osteoporosis or osteopenia.
How do healthcare providers diagnose broken fingers and broken thumbs?
To diagnose a broken finger or thumb, your provider will examine you and ask about your symptoms. They may check whether your injured finger:
- Angles in the wrong direction.
- Looks shorter than your other fingers.
- Overlaps with your other fingers (rotation or scissoring).
Then, your provider will order a finger or hand X-ray to confirm a break and rule out any other conditions, like a finger sprain or thumb sprain.
How do healthcare providers treat broken fingers and thumbs?
Finger fracture treatment depends on the location and severity of the fracture, as well as whether or not the fracture is displaced (out of alignment) or nondisplaced (aligned).
If you have a nondisplaced fracture, your provider may splint your injured finger or tape it to the finger next to it (buddy tape). The splint keeps your finger straight and protects it while it heals. You’ll usually keep the splint for several weeks as your fractured finger heals. You’ll also need to avoid strenuous activity for another several weeks afterward, but movement is usually very important at this point to avoid stiffness. Your provider may order physical therapy to help you regain motion, too.
If you have a displaced fracture, your provider may immobilize your finger or thumb with a splint after reducing and aligning the fragments of the fracture. Providers are usually able to do this procedure under local anesthesia. They typically inject a numbing solution (like at the dentist’s office) into the nerves at the base of your finger or thumb and then move the bones into position.
When does a broken finger or thumb need surgery?
You may need surgery for a fractured finger or fractured thumb if you have:
- An injury that involves a joint.
- Loose bone fragments.
- Multiple fractures.
- Tendon or ligament damage.
- Unstable fractures that a splint can’t support.
During finger or thumb surgery, your surgeon uses screws, small plates, pins or wires to hold your bones together. Sometimes, this hardware is temporary (pins or wires). Other times, it’s permanent and stays in your finger or thumb and is only removed if it causes issues.
When is it too late to fix a broken finger?
If possible, you should see a healthcare provider for treatment within a week of the injury. If you wait longer, it can have an impact on your treatment and recovery. After a period of time, your provider may decide to leave the bones in their current alignment to heal, or they may have to perform surgery to correct any deformity.
How long does a broken finger take to heal?
Recovery time for a finger or thumb fracture ranges from several weeks to a year. Healing time depends on the extent of the injury and your treatment. Your provider will let you know when it’s safe to use your hand again.
You may need to do rehab exercises each day, often under the guidance of a specialized hand therapist. These exercises can help with swelling and stiffness and allow for an optimal outcome.
What is the outlook for people with a broken finger or broken thumb?
The outlook varies depending on your age and overall health, as well as the type and severity of the fracture. Finger fractures and thumb fractures generally heal very well after treatment, but you may require physical therapy to regain motion, which is critical to a successful outcome.
When should I see my healthcare provider about finger or thumb pain?
You should always seek care right away if you suspect you have a broken finger or broken thumb. You can visit an urgent care center or a hospital’s emergency department.
References
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Finger Fractures (https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases–conditions/finger-fractures). Last reviewed 6/2022. Accessed 12/26/2024.
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Thumb Fractures (https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases–conditions/thumb-fractures/). Last reviewed 2/2022. Accessed 12/26/2024.
- Childress MA, Olivas J, Crutchfield A. Common Finger Fractures and Dislocations (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35704814/). Am Fam Physician. 2022 Jun 1;105(6):631-639. Accessed 12/26/2024.
- Merck Manual (Consumer Version). Finger Fractures (https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/injuries-and-poisoning/fractures/finger-fractures). Last reviewed/revised 12/2022. Accessed 12/26/2024.
- National Health Service (U.K.). Broken finger or thumb (https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/broken-finger/). Last reviewed 3/23/2022. Accessed 12/26/2024.
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