How to Care for Your Child with Finger Fracture
This leaflet will provide you with information about Finger fracture, symptoms,
diagnosis, treatment and home care advice.
What is Finger Fracture?
A "fracture" is another word for a broken bone. A finger fracture is when a person
breaks a finger bone.
What are the symptoms of Finger Fracture?
Symptoms of a finger fracture include:
o Pain.
o Swelling.
o Bruising.
o Stiffness.
o Weakness of the hand.
o A finger fracture can also make the finger bent in an abnormal position.
How is Finger Fracture diagnosed?
The doctor will ask a few questions about your child's health, examine your child,
and then order an X-ray.
Sidra Medicine PO BOX 26999 Doha, Qatar
+974 4003 3333 www.sidra.org
Daily care if your child has a splint:
o Don't remove or change the position of the splint unless your doctor said it's OK.
o Check the area around the splint. Ensure the skin is not scratched and the fingers
are not pale, blue, numb or tingling.
o Make sure your child does not pick or scratch under the splint.
o Do not put anything in the splint. For example, make sure your child does not put
toys, food or other objects into it.
o Keep dirt, sand, lotion and powder away from the splint.
o Keep the splint dry
o Put a plastic covering over the splint when your child bathes.
o If the splint is accidentally splashed, gently blow air onto it from a hairdryer on
the cool setting.
Daily care if your child has tape:
o If you do not see dirt on the skin, your child should use a hand sanitiser instead of
washing hands with soap and water.
o Replace the tape as you were taught if it gets wet or dirty.
o Keep cotton or gauze between the buddy-taped fingers to protect the skin.
o Loosen the tape if it feels too tight.
When should I seek medical advice?
Seek medical care if:
o Pain does not improve with medicine.
o Blisters, rashes or raw spots appear on the skin around the splint or tape.
o A foul smell or drainage comes from the splint or tape.
o Your child gets a fever while the finger is healing.
o The splint feels too tight.
o Your child's fingers are pale, cold, numb or tingly.
o Your child has a splint, and it cracks, becomes loose, gets wet or falls.
Sidra Medicine PO BOX 26999 Doha, Qatar
+974 4003 3333 www.sidra.org
How is Finger Fracture treated?
o Finger fractures are usually treated with a splint, "buddy taping," or both. This
depends on the type of finger fracture your child has and how severe it is.
o If your doctor advises giving medicine for pain, you can give:
- Paracetamol (any brand) or, Ibuprofen (any brand).
- Follow the instruction on the medicine package for the correct dose for
your child.
- Do not give your child Aspirin as this can cause a serious complication.
o A splint or buddy tape (using tape to hold the injured finger to a neighbouring
finger) keeps the broken bone from moving while it heals. Taking good care of
the splint or tape and treating pain will help keep your child comfortable while
healing.
o Fractures can take weeks to months to heal, depending on the type of fracture.
o Follow up appointments usually are not required. Your doctor will advise you if
your child needs a follow-up appointment.
Home care advice
To help reduce the swelling and relieve pain:
o Raise the hand on pillows when your child is sitting down or sleeping.
o If your child was given a sling, use it as directed. Don't use the sling during sleep.
o Remind your child to wiggle the uninjured fingers to keep blood circulating
normally
o When your child is awake, put ice in a plastic bag wrapped in a towel on the
broken finger for 20 minutes every 3 hours for up to 2 days. Don't put ice directly
on the skin.
Sidra Medicine PO BOX 26999 Doha, Qatar
+974 4003 3333 www.sidra.org
