(801) 442-2000
36 S. State Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84111Map

InstaCare Online

Finger Trauma (Injury)

Does this describe your symptom?

Injury to the skin or nail of the finger
Injury to a bone, muscle, joint or ligament of the finger

Types of Injuries

Cuts and Scratches: Superficial cuts (scratches) only extend partially through the skin and rarely become infected. Deep cuts (lacerations) go through the skin (dermis).
Abrasions or Scrapes: An area of superficial skin has been scraped off. Commonly occurs on the knuckles.
Bruises: Bruises (contusions) result from a direct blow or a crushing injury; there is bleeding into the skin from damaged blood vessels without an overlying cut or abrasion.
Fractures (broken bones)
Dislocations (bone out of joint)
Jammed Finger: The end of a straightened finger or thumb receives a blow (usually from a ball). The ligaments and tendons of the finger are stretched and torn.
Crushed Fingertip: This injury most often results from getting the finger smashed in a car door or from a heavy object falling on the finger (a hammer!). Usually the fingertip receives a few cuts, a blood blister or a bruise. Sometimes the nail is damaged. A fracture of the bone inside the fingertip can occasionally occur.
Subungual Hematoma (blood under the fingernail): This medical term is applied when a blood clot forms under the fingernail. It is caused by a crush injury to the fingertip. Some subungual hematomas are only mildly painful, and blood is typically under less than half of the nailbed. Others can be severely painful and throbbing, and these may need the pressure released to relieve the pain. The pressure can be released by putting a small hole through the nail. With larger subungual hematomas, the fingernail will usually fall off. A new nail will grow back in 6 to 12 weeks.
Torn Nail: From catching it on something.

When are Stitches Needed?

Any cut that is split open or gaping probably needs sutures (stitches). Cuts longer than 1/2 inch usually need sutures.
A physician should evaluate any open wound that may need sutures - regardless of the time that has passed since the initial injury.