What is the Finger Sprain Injury Treatment?
The aim of the treatment is to restore movement to the injured joint. The initial assessment will look at which structures have been damaged and decide on the appropriate method of treatment. An x-ray will often show small fragments of bone which are attached to the damaged ligaments. The Hand Surgeon will advise you of the plan of treatment.
In the initial phase the joint may be rested using a splint or cast if there is a lot of bruising and swelling. Otherwise the joint will be encouraged to move straight away. The swelling will reduce with time.
Surgery is uncommon but may be required if one of the ligaments has been torn.
What is the Outcome for Finger Sprain Injury Treatment?
Most patients will regain a full range of movement.
One of the recognised problems after any sprain is loss of movement which may be either a loss of bending or more commonly the straightening of the joint. The loss of full
straightening may be minor however if the finger is in a bent position that causes problems with use of the hand then additional treatment can be helpful. If the joint does
not respond to physiotherapy then a surgical release may be needed.
The other problem that can develop after a joint sprain where a ligament has been damaged is instability. This means the joint cannot resist the normal forces applied to it
and will give way. The symptoms are pain and weakness causing difficulty with use of the hand. Our Hand Surgeon will discuss the options with you and an appropriate decision made.
What is a Finger Sprain ?
A sprain refers to an injury to the tissues surrounding and supporting a joint. This includes the ligaments and joint capsule. (See diagram). The ligaments are strong structures that prevent the joint from going into abnormal positions. The capsule is a less strong structure that seals the joint from the other tissues. A sprain can be of varying degrees. In a minor sprain the tissues essentially remain intact and recover rapidly, in a more serious sprain the tissues may be badly torn and sometimes need to be repaired surgically.
After a sprain the injured joint will become swollen, painful and stiff. The amount of swelling usually reflects the degree of injury.
Specialists Treating Finger Sprain Injury
Dr Kevin Yip, Orthopaedic Specialist
