What is Finger or Thumb Dislocation
Finger or thumb dislocation happens when two bones in your finger or thumb separate at a joint.
Your doctor will move your bones back into place (reduction). This may be done by hand (manually) or with surgery. You may be given a splint to help you heal.
Follow these instructions at home:
If you have a splint:
- Do notput pressure on any part of the splint until it is fully hardened. This may take several hours.
- Wear it as told by your doctor. Remove it only as told by your doctor.
- Loosen the splint if your fingers tingle, become numb, or turn cold and blue.
- Do
notlet your splint get wet if it is not waterproof.
- Do nottake baths, swim, or use a hot tub until your doctor approves. Ask your doctor if you can take showers.
- If you have a splint that is not waterproof, cover it with a watertight plastic bag when you take a bath or a shower.
- Keep the splint clean.
Managing pain, stiffness, and swelling
- If
directed, put ice on the injured area.
- Put ice in a plastic bag.
- Place a towel between your skin and the bag.
- Leave the ice on for 20 minutes, 2–3 times a day.
- Move your fingers often to avoid stiffness and to lessen swelling.
- Raise (elevate) the injured area above the level of your heart while you are sitting or lying down.
Driving
- Do notdrive or use heavy machinery while taking prescription pain medicine.
- Ask your doctor when it is safe to drive if you have a splint on your hand.
Activity
- Return to your normal activities as told by your doctor. Ask your doctor what activities are safe for you.
- Rest and limit your hand movement as told by your doctor.
- If you were told to do physical therapy, do exercises as told by your doctor.
General instructions
- Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your doctor.
- Do notuse any tobacco products, such as cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and e-cigarettes. Tobacco can delay bone healing. If you need help quitting, ask your doctor
- Keep all follow-up visits as told by your doctor. This is important.
Contact a health care provider if:
- You have problems with your splint.
- You have pain that gets worse or does not get better with medicine.
- You have bruising, swelling, or redness that gets worse.
- You have trouble moving your finger or thumb after it heals.
Get help right away if:
- You lose feeling in your finger or thumb.
- You cannot move your finger or thumb.
- Your finger or thumb is pale or cold.
- You have very bad (severe) pain.
