ORTHOPEDICS/HAND & WRIST/FINGER DISORDERS
Twisted or displaced finger is a common hand damage.
Twisting is when a ligament that supports a joint is stretched so far and the hard fibers that constitute the ligament tissue become partially or entirely torn.
Dislocation comes following to a severe incident, when the supporting ligaments are seriously damaged and the joint comes apart.
Sports activities damages, hard work-related to damages risk, and automobile accidents are the most common causes of finger twisting dislocation.
We notice a wide range of harshness with finger ligament damages; therefore, it is important evaluate precisely a finger ligament damage to avoid unnecessary therapy.
Finger Twisting
Incidents such falling onto the hand or occurring from a sport activity, commonly provide finger-twisting causing a finger ligament damage accompanied with pain.
Finger Twisting/Signs
Pain with finger motion accompanied with inflammation around the knuckle and finger Soreness.
In some cases, X-rays are needed to identify any eventual crack that may require therapy that is more aggressive.
(MRIs or CT scans are rarely necessary to diagnose this difficulty kind.
Finger Twisting/Therapy
Finger twisting therapy are generally immobilized or buddy-taped for a short period.
Since there is no crack or disarticulation, finger twisting are authorized to move within about a week.
Binding the twisted finger during the sport activities can help protecting the damage.
Other therapy for a twisted finger may include: Ice applying on the damaged finger, Lifting in case of inflammation, Taking anti-inflammatory medicine and Smoothly moving the finger to avoid thickening
Some Thumb twisting with children may necessitate a longer period of immobilization.
Displaced Finger
When a damage involves not only the ligament, but also the surrounding joint capsule, cartilage, and even other tissues, a finger dislocation occurs and is a more significant damage to the digit than the finger twisting.
Note that the normal alignment of the finger is altered when a joint is dislocated; therefore a medical care is mandatory to put back the ligament into its normal place.
Relocating a displaced finger can be either easy or simple (relocation might be done by on self) as it may be severely complicated and may necessitate require anesthesia or even a surgical process to realign the digit.(In this challenging case, tendons or other tissues may prevent the joint from returning back to its normal position).
Generally, when a joint is diplaced, it is the ligaments and the joint capsule surrounding the damaged joint that are torn.
In addition, sometimes these ligaments do not heal appropriately and surgery is seldom recommended to repair the damaged assemblage.
Finger Disarticulations/Therapy
Treatment of a displaced finger is similar to that of a twisted finger. To remind:
Ice applying followed by lifting to the damaged zone.
In addition, X-ray is performed to diagnose the damaged impact with regard of checking an eventual finger crack.
Anti-inflammatory medicines are needed if necessary.
A Final Word
In both cases, (a finger twisting and a displaced finger), sometimes therapy is so simple that it allows using the hand as normal within an average of one week.
Therefore, there is no worries if pain persists for a bit longer and doctor may recommend medicines relievers to overpass the painful period with the little of discomfort.