FINGER DISLOCATION

FINGER DISLOCATION

Overview and Facts

The hands have five fingers bilaterally. Any trauma or miscalculation of movement can cause the fingers to deviate from its original axis. It has an annual incidence of 20 in 100,000 population, most commonly reported among males due to sports injury compared to females who have a yearly impact of 4.65 per 100,000 population mostly owed to an incident inside the home. Other places that have the highest incidence of dislocation include contact sports, fall from standing position, and the fingers were used as leverage to cushion the fall.

The most common age group that sustains finger dislocation are those between 15-19 years old, and the incidence gradually declines as the age increases and will again increase at ages 45-49 years old, and most of them were men.

The most commonly affected joint is the joint nearest to the knuckles (also known as the proximal interphalangeal joint). Contractures are most likely to happen after healing and should be avoided since it will hamper the mobility of the affected joint.

Types and Symptoms

TYPES

Dislocations are named based on the location and the joint involved.

  • Dislocation of the proximal interphalangeal joint is accompanied by deformity and pain of the adjacent tissue structures.
  • Metacarpophalangeal joint dislocation- has minimal tissue involvement if it is purely dislocation, but the presence of swelling of the surrounding tissue may alert the suspicion of fracture.
  • Distal interphalangeal joint dislocation is commonly brought about by trauma and almost always is accompanied by fracture and swelling of the surrounding tissue layer.

SYMPTOMS

The following can be seen or are tell-tale signs if an individual has finger dislocation:

  • The affected digit has deviated away from the area of injury
  • There is a note of a bulge with blood collection under the skin surrounding the city of dislocation
  • Pain on moving the affected digit
  • There is a range of mobility to the involved digits, but some may have the limitation of motion due to the perceived pain.

Diagnosis & Medications

DIAGNOSIS

Diagnosis is usually definite if there is an apparent deformity of the digit in question. However, radiologic imaging remains the gold standard for the determination of finger dislocation since it can aid the clinician identify the cause of the problem (if it is purely a dislocation or a fracture). Once confirmed, appropriate treatment can be decided on.

 

TREATMENT

Finger dislocations are most often treated with immobilisation of the affected finger by either a splint or by the use of fibreglass cast. Another option is to make the closed reduction of the affected joint and after which a radiograph of the affected extremity is done to check for the alignment.

Pain control with the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs which reduce the inflammation and swelling of the affected joint. Ice compress over the affected area can ease the pain by its numbing effect.

Adequacy of the reduction is considered successful if the affected finger can be actively flexed, and there is the absence of instability.

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