Aa
Fractured pinky finger
My son is 15 and suffered a fracture of the joint of his right pinky in the palm of his hand. The fracture is in the small area that sits to the inside of the bottom knuckle on his pinky. We took him to an orthopedic doctor who xrayed his hand and confirmed the fracture and then put him in a hard cast from his elbow to his wrist with a wrap the rest of the way. This was on for 10 days. He returned today and with my husbands request the doctor did not put the hard cast on but taped the pinky to the ring finger and then put a soft cast from the tip of his fingers to his elbow. My son fractured his hand playing baseball, went on to play in three more games with the fingers wrapped before we were able to get the first appointment. He states that there is no pain but there is bruising and a smal amount of swelling in the area between the two fingers.
Finally, my question....As a parent I am struggling with the DR and the 15 year old. He is unable to swim, unable to play video games, unable to play baseball and miserable. He has broken both pinkies in sports before and this type of extensive treatment has never been done. AM I WRONG...in going against medical advice and allowing him to use his hand WITHIN REASON? What is the chance that just keeping them taped will have the same end result as the cast that now has his other fingers and wrist stiff? The doctor consulted a hand specialist and told my husband that taping the fingers and a splint would be fine and a cast would not be needed. Is the splint protecting the joint or is keeping the entire are immobile helping to heal it? It is the summer, he is miserable....we are miserable and it is just a pinky......HELP!
Finally, my question....As a parent I am struggling with the DR and the 15 year old. He is unable to swim, unable to play video games, unable to play baseball and miserable. He has broken both pinkies in sports before and this type of extensive treatment has never been done. AM I WRONG...in going against medical advice and allowing him to use his hand WITHIN REASON? What is the chance that just keeping them taped will have the same end result as the cast that now has his other fingers and wrist stiff? The doctor consulted a hand specialist and told my husband that taping the fingers and a splint would be fine and a cast would not be needed. Is the splint protecting the joint or is keeping the entire are immobile helping to heal it? It is the summer, he is miserable....we are miserable and it is just a pinky......HELP!
Hi unfortunate pinky fractures,
I'm 43 and broke my left pinky finger at the knuckle and the mid-joint which required 2 pins to stabilize the finger. Hurts like hell!! They put me in a soft cast until surgery for 6 days. After surgery, I was in a hard cast type splint with wrap and that sucked because the swelling spread to my good fingers and wrist. Three days after surgery, they removed the cast and took x-rays to make sure it was correct. They then gave me a removable splint until it fully heals. They want me to start physical therapy 5 days from now. The point of all this is that the pinky is the 2nd most important digit on the hand. Without it, your grip losses approxiately 35% of its strength. Don't let the kids play sports until it is healed fully.
I'm 43 and broke my left pinky finger at the knuckle and the mid-joint which required 2 pins to stabilize the finger. Hurts like hell!! They put me in a soft cast until surgery for 6 days. After surgery, I was in a hard cast type splint with wrap and that sucked because the swelling spread to my good fingers and wrist. Three days after surgery, they removed the cast and took x-rays to make sure it was correct. They then gave me a removable splint until it fully heals. They want me to start physical therapy 5 days from now. The point of all this is that the pinky is the 2nd most important digit on the hand. Without it, your grip losses approxiately 35% of its strength. Don't let the kids play sports until it is healed fully.
My question is, will i probably need surgery? I just dont see how this cast will pull this bone fragment back into place.
Please review this post carefully and decide for yourself. http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Orthopedics/Broken-Pinky-Finger----Post-Surgery-Stiffness/show/510761?personal_page_id=881027
In my experience I have not seen an abundance of positive outcomes from casting.
In my experience I have not seen an abundance of positive outcomes from casting.
Last Friday i fractured my right pinky finger playing basketball. I first went to my regular doctor to get x-rays, the x-rays showed that i have a displaced fracture to my joint along with a bone fragment and torn ligaments.(the ligaments pulled off a chunk of the bone off my joint) He then sent me to an orthopedic surgen who put me in a short cast. He believes I can recover shortly without surgery because the cast will allow the ligaments to pull the bone fragment back into place. Does this even seem possible? Will the bonefragment re-attatch itself once returning to its original place?
Daisy,
First of all, concerning your little boy's finger circumstances, upon the doctor stating that he needs surgery..??
Have you seen the x-rays of your son's hand, and have they exactly explained why there is "definite need" for surgery?
I too was told that I needed surgery, but I was also given the option of a "reduction" which is a lot less complicated, as the hand is numbed (with a nerve block) and then the finger is realigned and put into a cast for 4 to 5 weeks.
I can't see the logic of putting a little boy through surgery at such a young age unless he truly tore some ligaments and there is obvious nerve damage.
If this is the case, in aspect to the fact that the present issue at hand is presenting concern for long term side affects, then so be it!
BUT!! it has now been 8 months since I broke my right pinky finger and despite enduring the process of a "reduction", the finger is aligned, but I am not able to "expand" the finger in full capacity like I am able to on my left hand.
I also am not able to use my whole right hand the same way I am able to with my left hand.
Thank god I am left handed, or else I would be screwed!
It seems, when you get in the presence of an Orthopedic surgeon, they LOVE ANY OPPORTUNITY TO GO UNDER THE KNIFE!
Their first inclination and postulation is to state that you need surgery to properly align the "limb in question."
You've got to get that this is how doctors get paid. Surgery is part of "their lifestyle." They think they can trump you emotionally.
The public doesn't even REALIZE that DOCTORS GET PAID TO DO REFERRALS, AS THEY ALSO GET PAID TO COUNSEL A PATIENT REGARDING THE NEED FOR MEDICATION!
Your little boy is your little boy. He more than likely has teeth still growing in (..??) His body is still going to grow. Once his finger is put back into alignment, the bone will "re-fuse" itself. The bones chemistry will reconnect itself, .. and life will go on!
I would try and keep the situation as simple as possible for both you and your son, for not only the time that will be invested physically and emotionally, but the cost as well.
In my opinion, Surgery warrants no promises. I had back surgery back in 2004, and I am now having horrible repercussions 7 years later.
Although I NEEDED surgery for the problem at hand,(a blown disc) the surgeon did more than I was told that would be done.
I found out 6 months later, from my primary care doc, that the surgeon had done what's called a framenectomy.(A whole was drilled through my spine to alleviate nerve pressure.
For the past two years now, I have not been able to lift my left leg, and I have to go in for constant chiropractic adjustments, as my pelvic bone structure twists, which is causing my spine to rotate, which causes posture problems, along with physical pain, which in part causes over exertion to my body.
Any time a limb is put into even temporary confinement, the rest of the body WILL COMPENSATE for the pain and the extra effort that it takes to do anything.
Little boys are resilient, so try to opt for a reduction or what ever it takes to realign the finger before you agree to surgery.
First of all, concerning your little boy's finger circumstances, upon the doctor stating that he needs surgery..??
Have you seen the x-rays of your son's hand, and have they exactly explained why there is "definite need" for surgery?
I too was told that I needed surgery, but I was also given the option of a "reduction" which is a lot less complicated, as the hand is numbed (with a nerve block) and then the finger is realigned and put into a cast for 4 to 5 weeks.
I can't see the logic of putting a little boy through surgery at such a young age unless he truly tore some ligaments and there is obvious nerve damage.
If this is the case, in aspect to the fact that the present issue at hand is presenting concern for long term side affects, then so be it!
BUT!! it has now been 8 months since I broke my right pinky finger and despite enduring the process of a "reduction", the finger is aligned, but I am not able to "expand" the finger in full capacity like I am able to on my left hand.
I also am not able to use my whole right hand the same way I am able to with my left hand.
Thank god I am left handed, or else I would be screwed!
It seems, when you get in the presence of an Orthopedic surgeon, they LOVE ANY OPPORTUNITY TO GO UNDER THE KNIFE!
Their first inclination and postulation is to state that you need surgery to properly align the "limb in question."
You've got to get that this is how doctors get paid. Surgery is part of "their lifestyle." They think they can trump you emotionally.
The public doesn't even REALIZE that DOCTORS GET PAID TO DO REFERRALS, AS THEY ALSO GET PAID TO COUNSEL A PATIENT REGARDING THE NEED FOR MEDICATION!
Your little boy is your little boy. He more than likely has teeth still growing in (..??) His body is still going to grow. Once his finger is put back into alignment, the bone will "re-fuse" itself. The bones chemistry will reconnect itself, .. and life will go on!
I would try and keep the situation as simple as possible for both you and your son, for not only the time that will be invested physically and emotionally, but the cost as well.
In my opinion, Surgery warrants no promises. I had back surgery back in 2004, and I am now having horrible repercussions 7 years later.
Although I NEEDED surgery for the problem at hand,(a blown disc) the surgeon did more than I was told that would be done.
I found out 6 months later, from my primary care doc, that the surgeon had done what's called a framenectomy.(A whole was drilled through my spine to alleviate nerve pressure.
For the past two years now, I have not been able to lift my left leg, and I have to go in for constant chiropractic adjustments, as my pelvic bone structure twists, which is causing my spine to rotate, which causes posture problems, along with physical pain, which in part causes over exertion to my body.
Any time a limb is put into even temporary confinement, the rest of the body WILL COMPENSATE for the pain and the extra effort that it takes to do anything.
Little boys are resilient, so try to opt for a reduction or what ever it takes to realign the finger before you agree to surgery.
No one can tell you what to do , trust your heart, as you were doing until now. My L hand is permanently more to the thumbside, after the dr that realign the hand pushed it in anger off again their I insisted on a fastner for the loose end of the crepebandage that had to held the loose backslap in place, while I had to make my way back home with small child, using busses, trains and taxis...... The Niagara masage unit, used in adjustomatic beds, exercices, and relentless use of the hand has brought it to the stage where it isn't normal funstioning but at least painless, and I can do most things to a degree. the medical professionals along the way discreetly refused to offer advice..... Good luck and keep faith.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Orthopedics Community
Find out if PRP therapy right for you.
Tips for preventing one of the most common types of knee injury.
Tips and moves to ease backaches
How to bounce back fast from an ankle sprain - and stay pain free.
Patellofemoral pain and what to do about it.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
