Finger Sprain in Children

Finger Sprain in Children

A finger sprain is a tear or stretch in a ligament in a finger. Ligaments are tissues that connect bones to each other. Children often get finger sprains during play, sports, and accidents.

What are the causes?

Finger sprains happen when something makes the bones in the hand move in an abnormal way. They are often caused by a fall or accident.

What increases the risk?

This condition is more likely to develop in children who participate in activities that involve throwing, catching, or tackling, such as:

• Baseball.
• Softball.
• Basketball.
• Football.

This condition is also more likely to develop in children who participate in activities in which it is easy to fall, such as:

• Skiing.
• Snowboarding.
• Skating.

What are the signs or symptoms?

Symptoms of this condition include:

• Pain or tenderness in the finger.
• Swelling in the finger.
• Bluish appearance to the finger.
• Bruising.
• Difficulty bending (flexing) and straightening the finger.

How is this diagnosed?

This condition is diagnosed with an exam of the finger. Your child’s health care provider may do an X-ray to see if bones in the finger have been broken or dislocated.

How is this treated?

Treatment for this condition depends on how severe the sprain is. It may involve:

• Preventing the finger from moving for a period of time. Your child’s finger may be wrapped in a bandage (dressing), splint, or cast, or your child’s finger may be taped to the fingers beside it (buddy taping).
• Keeping the hand raised (elevated) above the level of the heart during rest and sleep.
• Medicines for pain.
• Exercises to strengthen the finger. These may be recommended when the finger has healed.
• Surgery to reconnect the ligament to a bone. This may be done if the ligament was torn all the way.

Follow these instructions at home:

If your child has a splint:

• Do notallow your child to put pressure on any part of the splint until it is fully hardened. This may take several hours.
• Have your child wear the splint as told by your child’s health care provider. Remove it only as told by your child’s health care provider.
• Loosen the splint if your child’s fingers tingle, become numb, or turn cold and blue.
• Keep the splint clean.
• If the splint is not waterproof:
  • Do notlet it get wet.
  • Cover it with a watertight covering when your child takes a bath or a shower.

If your child has a cast:

• Do notallow your child to put pressure on any part of the cast until it is fully hardened. This may take several hours.
• Do notallow your child to stick anything inside the cast to scratch the skin. Doing that increases your child’s risk of infection.
• Check the skin around the cast every day. Tell your child’s health care provider about any concerns.
• You may put lotion on dry skin around the edges of the cast. Do notput lotion on the skin underneath the cast.
• Keep the cast clean.
• If the cast is not waterproof:
  • Do notlet it get wet.
  • Cover it with a watertight covering when your child takes a bath or a shower.

Managing pain, stiffness, and swelling

• If directed, put ice on the injured area.
  • If your child has a removable splint, remove it as told by your child’s health care provider.
  • Put ice in a plastic bag.
  • Place a towel between your child’s skin and the bag or between your child’s cast and the bag.
  • Leave the ice on for 20 minutes, 2–3 times a day.
• Have your child gently move his or her fingers often to avoid stiffness and to lessen swelling.
• Have your child elevate the injured area above the level of his or her heart while he or she is sitting or lying down.

General instructions

• Give over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your child’s health care provider.
• Keep any dressings dry until your health care provider says they can be removed.
• Have your child do exercises as told by your health care provider or physical therapist.
• Do notallow your child to wear rings on the injured finger.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your child’s health care provider. This is important.

Get help right away if:

• Your child’s pain, bruising, or swelling gets worse.
• Your child’s splint or cast is damaged.
• Your child’s finger is numb or blue.
• Your child’s finger feels colder to the touch than normal.
• Your child develops a fever.

Summary

• A finger sprain is a tear or stretch in a ligament in a finger. Ligaments are tissues that connect bones to each other.
• Children often get finger sprains during play, sports, and accidents.
• This condition is diagnosed with an exam of the finger. Your child’s health care provider may do an X-ray to check if bones in the finger have been broken or dislocated.
• Treatment for this condition depends on how severe the sprain is. Treatment may involve wearing a splint or cast. Surgery to reconnect the ligament to a bone may be needed if the ligament was torn all the way.