In the immediate aftermath of a knuckle injury, apply a cold pack to the affected area to minimize pain and swelling. Keeping your hand still and in an elevated position can also help. Immobilization is a technique that involves keeping the broken knuckle in place so that it can heal. This can be done by taping two fingers together, a technique known as buddy taping. The splint or cast may be applied to the finger, hand, or entire wrist area. Your doctor will let you know how long you need to wear the tape, splint, or cast.
It may be several weeks to a month. Your doctor might suggest over-the-counter medication to target pain caused by a broken knuckle. If your pain is severe, your doctor might prescribe something stronger, such as codeine. Other medications include antibiotics, which are used to prevent infection on cuts or wounds near the injury.
Most knuckle fractures do not require surgery. However, your doctor might suggest surgery if:. The surgical procedure depends on a number of factors, including the location and severity of the fracture.
Internal fixation procedures involve making an incision, realigning the knuckle, and using special pins, wires, screws, or plates to stabilize it.
External fixation procedures involve using pins to secure a metal frame around your finger or hand. The metal frame keeps your knuckle in place while it heals.
Once your knuckle heals, the frame is removed. Recovering from a broken knuckle can be challenging. You might not have full use of the affected hand and fingers for a while.
You might have to wear a cast or a splint for several weeks. A doctor might take more X-rays after two or three weeks in order to ensure your knuckle is healing properly. A number of factors, including your overall health, can impact healing time. Your doctor might suggest therapy to help with recovery. Physical therapy involves performing stretches and exercises to improve range of motion and reduce pain and stiffness in your knuckle and the surrounding area.
Occupational therapy involves making adaptations to your regular routine at home and at work. These adaptations can help you ease into using your hand and fingers again. Pain from a broken knuckle should lessen after your knuckle has been treated.
However, you might still feel mild to moderate pain as your knuckle heals. To manage pain caused by a broken knuckle, try holding your hand above heart level. If you have any redness or flaking of the nipple, get your breast checked out with your doctor. If your knuckles are looking a little bit inflamed and purple, it may be a sign of dermatomyositis , an inflammation of underlying muscle tissue that involves a decline in collagen and results in discoloration and swelling.
Many of us tend to think "no pain, no gain," but pain during exercise is often a sign you may have an injury. Anish Sheth. Discussing your issues with a doctor can help you figure out dietary and lifestyle changes or over-the-counter medicines that can help with your constipation.
Everyone gets headaches here and there, but if the pain is becoming extremely unbearable, it could be a sign of something worse. David Parish. A bruise from a broken knuckle will appear much faster than a normal bruise. As blood rushes into your injury, the area will begin to discolor within a matter of minutes. Bruising will also make your injury very tender. It will likely hurt to even touch a broken knuckle. There are cases of bones breaking without any bruising present, but they are rare.
Keep your hand elevated to decrease bruising. Keeping your hand above your heart will allow the blood to flow away from the injury. Find a sunken knuckle. A surefire way to tell if you have a broken knuckle is to see if it has sunk beneath your other knuckles. If you can, curl your injured hand into a fist and look at your knuckles. They should stick out.
Locate any areas where the skin is broken. If your bone is sticking through your skin, you have an open fracture and you will need surgery to repair it.
Make sure to wash the entire area with antiseptic soap. Make sure to dry your wound completely as moisture makes it easier for bacteria to grow.
You can also cover the wound with a clean dressing to prevent infection. Remove any loose pieces of material from the injury. If there is an impaled object in your knuckle, leave it in place for the doctors to remove in the hospital. Part 3. Bend your finger. Try to bend your injured finger to check for dislocation or malrotation of your knuckle. If your knuckle is dislocated, you may not be able to bend it at all as the bone will have moved in a way that does not allow you to use your finger.
If the bone has rotated, you might be able to bend the finger, but it will be pointed towards your thumb. Malrotation means that the bone has twisted in such a way that the finger will bend in a different direction than normal.
If your bone is dislocated or malrotated, you will need a doctor to reset it. A malrotated or dislocated knuckle often takes longer to heal than a simple broken knuckle. Make a fist. If your knuckle is broken, it will be very difficult for you to close your hand. You can test the severity of your injury by trying to make a fist. Your hand may have swollen too large or it may simply be too painful for you to move your fingers if your knuckle is broken. You may also be able to close all your fingers except for the one with the broken knuckle.
If you can make a fist, and your knuckle is broken, your injured finger may not align properly with the rest of your fingers. If you try too hard to fight through the pain and make a fist, you could injure or dislocate your knuckle further. Grip something. A broken knuckle will drastically reduce your finger strength. Your brain can shut down the muscles around a severe injury to prevent further damage. If you suspect you might have a fracture though, take it easy. Gripping something too hard could cause the fracture to become more severe.
Try out your wrist. Your knuckle is at the top of your metacarpal bone. The bottom of your metacarpal bone is connected to your carpus or wrist bone. Move your wrist from side to side and up and down. If you feel a sharp pain shoot through your hand, you most likely have a severe broken knuckle.
Seek treatment. If you suspect that your knuckle is broken, then see a doctor or visit an emergency room as soon as possible to get treated. You will probably have to wear a splint or brace for a few weeks until the knuckle heals. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. To keep your knuckle in place, you should splint it to another finger. Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0. Go to a doctor as soon as you can if you think your knuckle is broken.
A doctor will be able to take an x-ray to confirm your suspicions. Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0.
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