Healing process of a Dislocated pinky finger

[vero216]

While catching a football at the park I dislocated my little finger at the middle knuckle (I knew that because it looked really deformed and out of place).  I used to work for an Orthopedic Surgeon as an X-Ray tech and knew what was going to happen.  I went straight to the E.R and in the same order as I expected, I had x-rays to confirm dislocation without fracture, the Dr. reduced it back in to place, although she didn't numb my finger like I had expected so it was severily painful. I was splinted and x-rays where retaken.  The Dr. told me I only needed to where the splint a couple of days. She was expexting my pain to diminish after it was reduced. But it was really tender and painful if I touched it or moved it. I asked if there could be a hairline fracture that was not seen on xray she said yes. Well, it's been 6 days I can not make a fist, still very tender and painful, and it's crooked on the side, It feels like a big knot where it was dislocated.  Do you think I might have torn a ligament? Could it have not been reduced correctly? Should I continue wearing the splint? I know I would need to wear it for a few more weeks if it was fracture and then xray it to make sure it's healed and then rehab it.  It feels like a stiff finger at the joint and needs to be pulled to pop it.  It looks like if ever get a chance to make a fist again that my little finger will cross over my ring finger.

[dabidgomes]

I had the very same thing happen to me. Dislocated my pinky and the doctor taped it to the next finger and said to keep it like that for two days. Two weeks later I went to a different doctor with a new x-ray and he gave me the bad news: I needed surgery ($6000) and I wasn't going to recover full mobility after. Make a long story short, it's been almost four months since my injury, I had surgery and my finger is still swollen, bent and stiff. I may have to get surgery again. How did it go for you in the end??

[ejr1]

I had a similar incident. Dislocated my pinkie finger playing football, went to the doctors where they popped it back in and was given a splint to use as "a reminder." It's been about a month now and I have the knot/bumb that others have mentioned and still have limited range of motion, I can't straighten my finger out all of the way, but can make a fist just fine. I have not been icing or taking anti-inflammation medicine, but have been wearing the splint to force it straight. It straightens out a bit with, and is sore when I take it off (soreness goes away after a few minutes), but if I do not wear the splint it curves back after a while, although I am assuming/hoping that its helping a bit. I'll keep using the splint and try icing it and anit-inflammation medicine and see how that works.

I'm no doctor, but I think the knot is excess fluid (synovial fluid) since its hard, but does not hurt when I touch it, similar to having swollen joints.

The complete recovery time is 12-18 months according to some digging I did. I'll keep the regimen up and hopefully be back with some good news.

Any chance anyone on here have luck with recovery?

[Mommakycle]

I dislocated the 2nd joint in my pinky finger. The doctor reset it. The 1st joint looks funky and is hard to straighten. It has a hard bump on it. The doctor said I could go to a surgeon to see if they could correct that. But as long as it functions ok I'm fine. I'm older. My kids are raised and just don't see spending the money on my pinky. I can close fist just won't be able to straighten 1st knuckle.

[markaeder]

I dislocated my pinkie finger 5 months ago, went to the ER, had it x-rayed and "popped" back into place and it is still crooked, swollen and discolored.  I am being hassled by the Dr. for the amount due him after my insurance paid their portion.  I am tempted to refuse/dispute it.  Did yours ever heal?  It is 1/4 inch shorter than my other pinkie and is still painful.

Thanks.

[philnoir]

Surgery is probably not the answer.

Treat the inflammation and rest the joint. It willf al back into place.

[dandiezal]

i dislocated my ring finger and popped it back in 10 days ago.  X-rays shows partial fracture/chip at the proximal end of the intermediate phalange.  The joint also seems to be slightly out of place.  Movement is extremly limited and i fear there will be issues in the future.  Does anybody ever do surgery for this type of injury?

[Lilyros1]

Hey I got a sprained pinky and I did what you told me to do, it didnt heal and i did everything what should I do now?

[YossiD]

I dislocated my pinky about a month ago while playing volleyball. It was rather neat as the finger bent nearly 90 degrees to the side. Surprisingly (and fortunately) there was essentially no pain, and after a short while it snapped back into place on its own.

I then iced it and buddy taped it, and went to have it looked at.

After examination and x-ray I was told that there was no fracture and it would just take time for the soft tissue damage to heal.

Over the next week or so it felt like the finger would easily dislocate again but now it's feeling much stronger. I can bend the finger fine, although not quite as much as the other (uninjured) pinky.

The knuckle, however is still swollen with a bit of a "knob" projecting toward the neighboring finger. If I squeeze it, there's some tenderness, but not much. Is this prolonged swelling normal and can I expect it to eventually subside? Is it possible that some cartilage also moved out of place and that's what's causing the deformation of the knuckle?

Thanks.

[nrob]

I dislocated my pinky finger 5 weeks ago.  From joint to tip was perpendicular to bottom of finger.  Was so horrified, I pulled up and put it back in place and iced it, but hurt so badly I went to the ER.  X-ray showed no break and they said I did a really good job (straight).  Taped it to a splint and told me to ice every 2 hours for 20 minutes and wear splint for 2 days.  Talked to a friend of mine who is an orthopedic NP on the third day and he said it looked good, but to buddy splint, as this is much more stable than a splint.  Told me to buddy tape and continue icing daily for 4-6 weeks.  Went to the orthopedic clinic the 5th week because joint still swollen and still painful and hard to bend.  They took another x-ray and said it looked good.  Told me to ice, take an anti-inflammatory and exercise by trying to make a fist, but not force.  Another appt was scheduled for week 9 and I was asked to try to be able to make a fist by then.  I can now touch my finger to my palm as I make a fist, but still can't tighten without hurting and joint still swollen and bruised.  I am using a foam column to squeeze to exercise.  I read that full healing can take 16-18 months and the joint may remain larger.  My friend and the clinic provider both said not to push it as soft tissue injury needs time to heal.  They said to ice and take anti-inflammatory when pain and protect the finger if doing activities that could re-injure.  Hope this helps.

[crystalh]

I dislocated my pinkie about 5 months ago and it's still just as swollen as it was the night it happened. It doesn't bend well and is still painful if I force it to bend. It also has a purple tint as if it doesn't have proper circulation. The xray didn't show any fracture either. Doc had me tape together to my next finger for 2 days and said It'd be all good. He lied.  

[Cristina1984]

I have the same problem as you had. It's been 5 yeas now since your post. How did you pinkie healed?

[cam281981]

I dislocated my ring finger and broke part of the bone off as well, That was 4 weeks ago and i have just had my splint off......My god is it sore! I have been told that i can take upto 18 months till its like it was but some times you will never get it 100%

[m1966]

i to have had my little finger dislocated.The dr froze it to set it back into place,so it was numb and couldn't feel anything.Well its going on 3 weeks and its still tender and I can't bend my little finger like it use to.I also can't make a fist and the knuckle on that finger doesn't look like it use to (normal)The dr i seen said it wasn't broken as i had it xrayed,but he never mentioned anything about exercising it.I've been looking on the internet for some king of exercises,other then that i'm just bending the little finger so many times a day in hopes this works.Could anyone let me know what type of exercises that would help and also does the finger once dislocated ever go back to normal again?

[ehairtick]

has it healed? this happened to me 3 weeks ago and it seems to be healing but it still feels pain and i cannot make a fist yet? have you gone to get your x-ray? please reply

[vunit]

I've done exactly the same thing.  I popped it back in place myself immediately and haven't been to have it x-rayed because it seemed ok besides some swelling and a bit of bruising.  It's now been just over a week and it I thought it was healing well but after the swelling went down I'm still left with a lump on one side.  It's pretty solid as if it might be bone. Is this likely? If it's bone, how does it heal? Am I likely to be permanently lumpy or could it still recede?  

[usarmymedic1]

you could have damaged the volar plate a small ligament that controls the hyper extension of the fingers

[joe26]

you should splint it for 2 weeks.. to immobilize it.. and then try exercising after 2 wks by grabing a ball.. u nid 2 weeks for your finger capsule to heal. take calcium for beter healing