Broken Finger

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Causes

Signs/Symptoms

Care

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

• Wear your splint until your doctor says you may take it off or until your follow-up examination. You may retape the splint if it gets wet. When retaping, make sure the splint stays in the same place and position.
• Apply ice to the injury for 15 to 20 minutes each hour for the first 1 to 2 days. Put the ice in a plastic bag and place a towel between the bag of ice and your skin.
• Keep your finger above the level of your heart whenever possible to reduce the swelling.
• To help ease the pain, you may take over-the-counter medicines. Take all medications exactly as directed by your doctor.
• If you are given a tetanus shot, your arm may get swollen, red, and warm to the touch at the site of the shot. This is a normal reaction to the medicine.

Call Your Doctor If...

• The pain or swelling gets worse.
• The injured finger is cold when the others are warm.
• The finger becomes swollen and very red.
• The finger turns white or blue.
• The finger is numb or tingling.