People in everyday life often get injured toes or hands. This causes discomfort and reduces the quality of work or rest. In general, damage is limited to a conventional bruise. It is much more difficult when a person gets a fracture or dislocation. To maintain normal finger mobility, it is necessary to diagnose an injury in a timely manner and receive appropriate treatment. Currently, medicine offers a large selection of tools that alleviate soreness and accelerate the recovery of an injured joint. These include special finger tires, splints, orthoses and bandages. With the help of such devices, it is possible to fix an injured joint, restricting its movement.
Hand anatomy
During evolution, the mammal’s hand underwent many transformations. Thanks to this, adaptation to living conditions, which were constantly changing, increased. Due to its complex structure (it includes 27 bones), the human hand is very functional. Each finger consists of 3 phalanges, the exception is only the thumb - it has 2 phalanges. In addition, the hand contains a large number of muscles and tendons, which help the bones to perform flexion and extension movements. Collateral ligaments protect fingers from pathological mobility.
Symptoms: how to distinguish a bruise, fracture and dislocation of a finger
At first glance, it is difficult for a person who does not have a medical education to distinguish between serious injury and minor damage. After damage to the finger, attention should be paid to the symptoms.
With a bruise, characteristic of:
- Swelling.
- Pain when moving and touching.
- The formation of a hematoma (bruise).
- Decreased motor function.
- Intensification of pain after some time. Depending on the strength of the blow, soreness can persist for up to several days.
When dislocation is characteristic:
- All symptoms observed with bruising.
- Lack of finger movement: it is impossible to bend, move it.
- Deformation at the impact site.
- Redness of the skin in an injured place and pallor in the finger itself.
With a fracture of a finger on a hand, it is characteristic:
- Bone crunch.
- Unbearable soreness when trying to make a movement.
- Deformation.
- The increase in pain when pressing the finger.
If you get any injury, you should seek help from a specialist, especially if the damage is accompanied by signs of dislocation or fracture.
Injury classification
Depending on the strength of the impact, several categories of joint injuries can be distinguished.
- The first group. This includes bruises characterized by a violation of the integrity of the skin. Hyperemia (redness), abrasions or scratches are formed at the site of the impact. Such an injury does not require the intervention of specialists. Symptoms go away on their own in a few days.
- The second group includes bruises, accompanied by muscle damage. With such an injury, pain when pressing and moving the joint is added to the edema and hematoma. In such cases, it is possible to lay the tire on the finger of the hand to ensure peace.
- The third group. After an injury, not only muscles but also tendons are damaged. With severe bruising, a dislocation of the finger of the hand may occur.
- The fourth group includes severe bruises, as a result of which a tendon rupture occurs. Signs of such damage are acute pain at the site of the impact and the formation of a maroon hematoma.
Joint dislocation
A pathological shift in the articular surfaces of the bones that form the interphalangeal joint is called a dislocation. Such a trauma is often accompanied by rupture of the joint capsule and ligamentous apparatus. Failure to provide timely medical attention can lead to serious complications, up to limiting movement in the joint. In addition, dislocation of the finger can be combined with damage to the integrity of the skin. Incomplete antiseptic treatment can cause the development of an infectious process.
Diagnostics
For an accurate diagnosis, radiation research methods are used. In emergency rooms, this is an X-ray machine. Medical workers take a picture of the damaged joint in two projections - lateral and straight. Using X-rays, you can not only establish the presence of a fracture of a finger on the arm, but also the nature of the displacement of the fragments, the exact location. Based on these facts, the traumatologist determines the method of treatment.
Treatment
In first-aid stations, with a dislocation of the finger (after its removal) or a fracture, the movement of the joint is limited by the application of a plaster cast. For the convenience of the patient, this fixation method can be replaced with special medical devices. With the approval of a doctor, you can put a splint on the finger of the hand. In case of a fracture, other products are also used:
- Bandage. The fixator is used for injury to the phalangeal joints, as well as in the rehabilitation period after surgery.
- Tutor. A clamp of this kind is indicated after surgery on the wrist joint and hand. The purpose of the splint is to fix the thumb in a certain position.
- A finger orthosis provides a resting position for the injured joint, which contributes to proper bone fusion. Such fixation is permissible in case of fracture of the middle or nail phalanx.
- To provide first aid for a fracture at home, you can create an impromptu splint on the finger. A wooden stick, ruler or rod can be bandaged to a damaged joint.
Choosing a finger brace
The latch is selected according to the doctor's recommendation. For each clinical case, various types of bandage products are used. In addition, you should pay attention to:
- The size. The orthosis of the finger should be firmly fixed, but not squeeze it.
- Rigidity. Semi-rigid, hard and soft orthoses are distinguished. Wrong choice of lock can damage your finger.
- Material. Rigid models use metal and plastic, while elastic models use a soft base.
- Products designed to fix one joint or a separate phalanx have been developed. Models for fingers of the left or right hand are also available.
Contraindications when using clamps
It is excluded that a plastic tire is worn on a finger in case of blood circulation disturbance at the site of its application, skin diseases. The bandage is not used in place with fresh, bleeding postoperative sutures. Also contraindications are: gout, inflammation and the formation of ulcers on the background of diabetes.
How to apply a tire
Such a fixative is used to fix the joint in place. To purchase a suitable tire size, measure the diameter and length of the injured finger. Such products are sold in orthopedic salons and some pharmacies without a prescription. Tires on a finger of a hand are made of metal or plastic.
Sequencing:
- Place tire on injured finger. To do this, it should be straightened, supporting with the other hand. The tire must be put on the finger so that it completely covers it.
- Make sure that the joint is fully extended and the product fits snugly. Fixing a finger bent backward or forward can damage the skin.
- Cut off two strips from the adhesive tape. Their length should be about 25 cm. The first strip is tightly wrapped around the injured finger between the first and second joints. Such actions should be carried out to the end of the patch. The second strip is wrapped in the same way between the second and third joints.
- After the manipulation, it is necessary to check the blood circulation in the finger with a pin. To do this, squeeze the nail for a few seconds. Blood circulation is considered normal if the nail becomes pinkish again after being released within 2 seconds. Otherwise, you should remove the tire and put it on again - it is too tight.
On average, a finger splint is recommended for 4 to 6 weeks. This is the normal time of bone fusion at fracture. In some cases, it is enough to use the latch only 3 weeks. The exact wearing time will be indicated by your doctor after an additional examination. A visit to a traumatologist is recommended approximately 10 days after application of the tire.