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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!
when I was 12, I broke my left pinky back in 1975. It was almost the worse pain I have ever felt. My mom didn't make a big deal out of it back then...and placed a soft splint on it. It grew completely crooked and weird looking. I am 48 now :) My sweet little boy who is 6 (I know...I am an old mama) :) He just broke the same L pinky last week...they want to do surgery! Isn't that over the top? I am just venting :)
I fracture under the nail in my pinky finger at the er they put me a splint and told me to go to an orthpedic
so I can get a cast and know I don't know what to do can I get some advice
so I can get a cast and know I don't know what to do can I get some advice
This is the thread. Read if carefully.
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Orthopedics/Broken-Pinky-Finger----Post-Surgery-Stiffness/show/510761?personal_page_id=881027
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Orthopedics/Broken-Pinky-Finger----Post-Surgery-Stiffness/show/510761?personal_page_id=881027
what position is your pinky in right now? Where was your fracture location? Is your DIP joint able to bend?
I'm very worried about you being in a cast for 6 weeks. Please read the thread I referenced two posts early.
Early range of motion is critical for pinky fractures. I was splinted after a closed reduction for 5 weeks and lost complete use of my pinky, and needed 2 surgeries to try and correct the problem. Based on my experience, and extensive research In most cases, YOU CANNOT KEEP A PINKY IMMOBILIZED FOR 6 WEEKS AND HOPE TO NOT HAVE SCAR TISSUE. Especially if DIP is also immobilized.
Please read that thread before its too late for you, and see a hand surgeon, not an orthopedic for another opinion. Orthopedics generally know nothing about the hand. As someone who has lost all use of his pinky, I can tell you I wish I had received this advice earlier.
I'm very worried about you being in a cast for 6 weeks. Please read the thread I referenced two posts early.
Early range of motion is critical for pinky fractures. I was splinted after a closed reduction for 5 weeks and lost complete use of my pinky, and needed 2 surgeries to try and correct the problem. Based on my experience, and extensive research In most cases, YOU CANNOT KEEP A PINKY IMMOBILIZED FOR 6 WEEKS AND HOPE TO NOT HAVE SCAR TISSUE. Especially if DIP is also immobilized.
Please read that thread before its too late for you, and see a hand surgeon, not an orthopedic for another opinion. Orthopedics generally know nothing about the hand. As someone who has lost all use of his pinky, I can tell you I wish I had received this advice earlier.
Per breaking my right pinky finger last Saturday.
Here is my experience, .. and yet "too be" wisdom! (haha) Upon falling while walking a neighbors dog, I took an unexpected tumble for which I went from left arm to right arm, sending my hand sailing. When I got up, the pinky finger was bent in towards the other finger next to it.
I soaked my hand in cold water and ice, to reduce the swelling,.. and then "Buddy wrapped" my two fingers until I got to the urgent care office.
Upon x-ray, the doc said "Yup!,..it's brokeI", sending me home in a small silver splint and two pieces of tape wrapped around my two fingers, with no true explanation concerning the broken finger, other than to follow up with an orthopedic hand specialist.
I went to see the specialist on Wednesday, to be informed that i had an "abnormal" break. Upon a second x-ray, I was told that I would either have to do a "Finger reduction" or have hand surgery.
Upon first consultation, I was left with three different stories as to what would be done to my hand, to include that a reduction was basically "re-breaking" the finger into place. (I could not bear the thought of having my finger RE-BROKEN!!)
Also, I was not comfortable withe fact that the doctor and tech wanted to numb my hand, re-break the finger, take an x-ray to see if I needed surgery and put a cast on my hand all in a period of 45 minutes before I had to be at a committed appointment!
As it was, I was alone with nobody to drive me home! Would you drive home alone with your hand completely numb and in a complete cast? .. I think not! It was enough having hit my pinky numerous times before I had the temporary splint!
This morning, I returned to the Orthopedic specialist to be told that a "Reduction" is basically a procedure where the pinky finger is bent down almost half way down to the hand so the bone can become realigned.
I was injected three times with a mixture of Lidocaine, and then my two fingers were put into position, and then a cast was put on, and another x-ray was taken.
Unfortunately, the doctor was not satisfied with the first cast, so the tech had to saw it off, and reposition the fingers, and then another cast was put on, and then another x-ray was done to see if the positioning for alignment was right.
I was told though, that after the three to four week period, ..that if the finger was still not in the right position, ..I would have to go through hand surgery to correct the alignment for proper healing and not encounter lifelong pain.
For what it is worth, .. I was told I would be without use of my hand for six weeks after either procedure.
If there is still time for you to do the "Reduction" now without surgery,..do it,..as you will be in less pain!
The cast is a pain in the butt, and cumbersome, as I am enduring "What is" without pain medication! .. but so far, ..I am just hopeful that I will not need hand surgery.
The more time you put the procedure off, it will be more painful, and time constraining upon your personal life.
Just make sure you GET ALL THE FACTS ABOUT WHAT IS GOING TO BE DONE TO YOUR HAND BEFORE ANYONE TOUCHES IT!
I am glad that I waited, upon putting my appointment on Wednesday off, .. as I ended up having a firm conversation with the Manager of the orthopedic division, about what happened to me. He was mortified, if not embarrassed about what happened, as he had not been told about what happened in the "Cast room". The manager could barely look me in the face, yet he was gracious and escorted me to the doctor that he had personally assigned to me today, handing me his card, .. requesting that I contact him, upon following up with the outcome of my procedure.
RECOMMENDATION: DON'T EVER GO INTO AN ORTHOPEDIC DEPARTMENT OF A HOSPITAL IN THE AFTERNOON!
TO ME, THE EXPERIENCE WAS LIKE BEING IN A MEAT MARKET!
MORE TO THE POINT OF.. "WE STAB EM, .. AND WE SLAB EM!"
ALSO, IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, MAKE SURE YOU ARE NOT IN THE MIX OF HAVING A STUDENT AND A RESIDENT DOCTOR SEEING YOU IN A HUMUNGOUS CAST ROOM, WITH A BUNCH OF NUMB TECHS FLOATING ABOUT.
YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE QUALITY CARE THIS WAY,.. AND YOU DON'T DESERVE ALL THE NOISE AND STRESS WHEN YOU ARE ALREADY IN PAIN AND UNDER DURESS!
Having a broken finger is not the end of the world, as there are so many things that could be worse,.. for which other bodily organs have "surrendered" to life and larger bones have bitten the dust in some way, .. through our recreation or the unexpected .. But!!!
You are very right,.. in that you do do alot with that pinky finger! ..
As it is, I am sitting here hen pecking with one hand!
I thank God that I broke the finger on my right hand and not my left hand, .. as I am left handed!
Take good care of yourself, .. as you don't deserve to live with any sort of pain!
Here is my experience, .. and yet "too be" wisdom! (haha) Upon falling while walking a neighbors dog, I took an unexpected tumble for which I went from left arm to right arm, sending my hand sailing. When I got up, the pinky finger was bent in towards the other finger next to it.
I soaked my hand in cold water and ice, to reduce the swelling,.. and then "Buddy wrapped" my two fingers until I got to the urgent care office.
Upon x-ray, the doc said "Yup!,..it's brokeI", sending me home in a small silver splint and two pieces of tape wrapped around my two fingers, with no true explanation concerning the broken finger, other than to follow up with an orthopedic hand specialist.
I went to see the specialist on Wednesday, to be informed that i had an "abnormal" break. Upon a second x-ray, I was told that I would either have to do a "Finger reduction" or have hand surgery.
Upon first consultation, I was left with three different stories as to what would be done to my hand, to include that a reduction was basically "re-breaking" the finger into place. (I could not bear the thought of having my finger RE-BROKEN!!)
Also, I was not comfortable withe fact that the doctor and tech wanted to numb my hand, re-break the finger, take an x-ray to see if I needed surgery and put a cast on my hand all in a period of 45 minutes before I had to be at a committed appointment!
As it was, I was alone with nobody to drive me home! Would you drive home alone with your hand completely numb and in a complete cast? .. I think not! It was enough having hit my pinky numerous times before I had the temporary splint!
This morning, I returned to the Orthopedic specialist to be told that a "Reduction" is basically a procedure where the pinky finger is bent down almost half way down to the hand so the bone can become realigned.
I was injected three times with a mixture of Lidocaine, and then my two fingers were put into position, and then a cast was put on, and another x-ray was taken.
Unfortunately, the doctor was not satisfied with the first cast, so the tech had to saw it off, and reposition the fingers, and then another cast was put on, and then another x-ray was done to see if the positioning for alignment was right.
I was told though, that after the three to four week period, ..that if the finger was still not in the right position, ..I would have to go through hand surgery to correct the alignment for proper healing and not encounter lifelong pain.
For what it is worth, .. I was told I would be without use of my hand for six weeks after either procedure.
If there is still time for you to do the "Reduction" now without surgery,..do it,..as you will be in less pain!
The cast is a pain in the butt, and cumbersome, as I am enduring "What is" without pain medication! .. but so far, ..I am just hopeful that I will not need hand surgery.
The more time you put the procedure off, it will be more painful, and time constraining upon your personal life.
Just make sure you GET ALL THE FACTS ABOUT WHAT IS GOING TO BE DONE TO YOUR HAND BEFORE ANYONE TOUCHES IT!
I am glad that I waited, upon putting my appointment on Wednesday off, .. as I ended up having a firm conversation with the Manager of the orthopedic division, about what happened to me. He was mortified, if not embarrassed about what happened, as he had not been told about what happened in the "Cast room". The manager could barely look me in the face, yet he was gracious and escorted me to the doctor that he had personally assigned to me today, handing me his card, .. requesting that I contact him, upon following up with the outcome of my procedure.
RECOMMENDATION: DON'T EVER GO INTO AN ORTHOPEDIC DEPARTMENT OF A HOSPITAL IN THE AFTERNOON!
TO ME, THE EXPERIENCE WAS LIKE BEING IN A MEAT MARKET!
MORE TO THE POINT OF.. "WE STAB EM, .. AND WE SLAB EM!"
ALSO, IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, MAKE SURE YOU ARE NOT IN THE MIX OF HAVING A STUDENT AND A RESIDENT DOCTOR SEEING YOU IN A HUMUNGOUS CAST ROOM, WITH A BUNCH OF NUMB TECHS FLOATING ABOUT.
YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE QUALITY CARE THIS WAY,.. AND YOU DON'T DESERVE ALL THE NOISE AND STRESS WHEN YOU ARE ALREADY IN PAIN AND UNDER DURESS!
Having a broken finger is not the end of the world, as there are so many things that could be worse,.. for which other bodily organs have "surrendered" to life and larger bones have bitten the dust in some way, .. through our recreation or the unexpected .. But!!!
You are very right,.. in that you do do alot with that pinky finger! ..
As it is, I am sitting here hen pecking with one hand!
I thank God that I broke the finger on my right hand and not my left hand, .. as I am left handed!
Take good care of yourself, .. as you don't deserve to live with any sort of pain!
For those of you with pinky fractures, be sure and also read this thread:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Orthopedics/Broken-Pinky-Finger----Post-Surgery-Stiffness/show/510761
For those of you considering prolonged splinting as a proper means to 'fix' a pinky, please read the thread above, and draw your own conclusions. VERY IMPORTANT INFO on that other thread - and I'd hate to see what happened to me happen to others----
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Orthopedics/Broken-Pinky-Finger----Post-Surgery-Stiffness/show/510761
For those of you considering prolonged splinting as a proper means to 'fix' a pinky, please read the thread above, and draw your own conclusions. VERY IMPORTANT INFO on that other thread - and I'd hate to see what happened to me happen to others----
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