10 replies to this topic

[Phil Smith]

Sorry, way off topic. My grand was throwing a football with friends today and caught the ball where it jammed his left pinky finger. I've never dislocated a finger so I have no experience with this. It's not bent much, but it's no question not straight. What do you think needs to be done?

 

Left hand.

 

 

Right hand for comparison.

 

[Bill from NH]

Get him some medical attention. it might be more than just a dislocation. An "Urgent Care" facility is a good place to start.

[Phil Smith]

Bill, that's what I think, but my son does not agree. They don't have insurance so I offered to pay but I think he perceives that as me interfering and doesn't like it.

 

You see a lot of pro athletes with permanently crooked fingers. I guess it's not the end of the world.

 

[Phil Smith]

Well my son has deemed it a jammed finger. He pisses me off. I'm paying for it. Let me take to the doctor. But it's not my call. So hopefully it will be OK.

[Brian Czeiner]

I have had many jammed fingers as a young man. The repeated cure from medical care was to immobilize the finger. I believe you can still get a metal squeeze splint over the counter. This might be a compromise for him. I McGuyvered a few up with a tongue depressor and medical tape too.
 
Of course this is assuming he actually has a jammed finger. Its still best to have it looked at by a medical professional.

[Phil Smith]

I Have the grand kids tomorrow. I'll get a splint for it. Thanks for the tip, Brian!

[Dave Crevie]

Impress on him that these unattended injuries will come back to haunt him in later life. My abuse of my body through my life is a large part of why I am essentially housebound  now. What doesn't heal properly will be an aggravation later in the very least.

 

I remember going to the emergency room for a jammed finger, and when the doctor came in, he asked to see my damaged distal phalange.  I told him I didn't have any trouble with that. It was my finger that was hurt.

[Brian Czeiner]

I Have the grand kids tomorrow. I'll get a splint for it. Thanks for the tip, Brian!

 

  Very welcome, kids can be stubborn.  As Dave said above, try to impress upon him the painful future consequences of improper medical care. Otherwise, see if there is any discoloration or discomfort when you gently move the finger around. Those things can be a sign of something much worse. If none of that is there, a jam may be all it is.  As I said, I'm not a medical person. My advice is from my own experience and a mother who was a nurse for many years. 

 

He will want to keep the splint on for the first 48 hours, then he can remove it to shower but needs to go back on after he dries off. The worst time of potential damage will be when sleeping. Keep it on for two or three weeks and all should be good.  

[Bill Seitz]

If it wasn't crooked, I'd say no problem. I've sprained fingers a few times over the years, but still straight, and they healed fine. The bent finger, if not treated, could stay permanently that way and be a problem later. Probably would be a good candidate for arthritis in later age which I'm sure everyone that has it can attest is a real pain. The other thing I've noticed is these medical situations tend to become a lot more difficult and expensive to fix when we put them off until they really get bothersome in our older age.

[gotboostedvr6]

My wife said go to ortho urgent care.

[Phil Smith]

i agree with everyone. Unfortunately it's not my call.