When to seek medical help for a smashed finger

28 May When to seek medical help for a smashed finger

The dangers of door-related finger injuries are largely underestimated. While almost everyone has trapped their hands or fingers in a door at some point during their lifetime, the consequences of entrapment can get pretty serious, especially for the thousands of children who trap their fingers in doors every year. Here Anna De Leo, Royal Free Hospital surgeon and spokesperson for the British Association of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (BAPRAS), describes just how extensive the damage can be:

“It’s easy to underestimate how important your hands are to doing everyday tasks. Injuries to fingers and hands mean tying your shoelaces, typing, holding a mobile phone or eating become a lot more challenging. And this is nothing compared to the impact of a finger amputation… The injuries are so serious that the patient would need to undergo a clinic appointment, an X-ray, day surgery, a follow-up nurse appointment and possibly physiotherapy.”

With amputation causing various other physical and mental health problems, knowing how to treat finger trapping injuries, and quickly, is vital. In addition to taking steps to resolve immediate pain and discomfort, knowing when to seek professional help is an important tip. Here are the signs to look out for…

Are they suffering severe pain?

Finger trapping accidents are painful, there’s no getting away from that! But, if the pain is intense and doesn’t improve with time, there could be more serious injuries going on under the surface. Prolonged pain that shows little or no improvement could in fact indicate a fracture or severe soft tissue damage, which will need medical attention to resolve and remedy.

If the affected individual can’t bend or straighten the finger without extreme pain, you should also seek medical help. This could be a sign of tendon or ligament injury.

Has the finger become swollen or deformed?

Swelling and deformity are other instances where it’s best to seek help from a doctor or another medical professional for diagnosis and treatment.

The finger may appear bent, misshapen or unusually swollen, which could be caused by a break or dislocation. The colour of the finger or hand may also be abnormal. If the affected area turns blue, purple or remains particularly pale, this could suggest poor blood flow or internal damage, and prompt further investigation.

Is there numbness or tingling?

If, once the pain has subsided, the person affected is experiencing numbness or feels tingling in their fingers or hands, it’s worth getting it checked over by a doctor. Numbness or tingling could point to nerve damage or circulation issues, which require medical evaluation sooner rather than later.

Nerve damage is bad news, especially for extremities like the fingers and toes. With time, nerve damage can render the fingers permanently injured, with those impacted unable to use their fingers, wrists and/or hands to their full potential. Nerve damage may also show itself as twitching, burning, pain, weakness, increased sensitivity or paralysis.

Can you see bone or deep tissue?

This may be an obvious one but it’s worth drawing attention to. While it’s important to make sure any areas of broken skin are cleaned and covered in accordance with first aid guidance, deep cuts or open wounds should always be treated by a medical professional, especially if there’s exposed bone or deep tissue. Reduce the risk of infection and get the stitches or further treatment required to ensure a full recovery.

Remember, prevention is better than cure

Preventable accidents are on the rise; don’t add finger trapping injuries to the list by exploring our range of door finger guards. Our finger safety guards have been designed and developed to prevent such injuries, and actively eject wandering fingers and hands from dangerous hinge gaps to make trapping accidents things of the past. Find the door guards that are right for you here.