A smashed finger, often from a car door, is a common and painful injury. It typically involves direct trauma, leading to immediate symptoms like severe pain, throbbing, swelling, and discoloration. Understanding immediate steps and the healing process can help manage discomfort and promote recovery.
What to Do Immediately
After a smashed finger, the first step is to prevent further damage and begin healing. Remove any rings from the affected finger, as swelling can quickly make removal difficult and potentially cut off circulation. If there is a cut or open wound, gently clean the area with soap and water or an antibacterial rinse, then cover it with sterile gauze or bandages.
Applying ice to the injured finger can help reduce pain and swelling. Wrap ice in a cloth and apply for up to 20-minute intervals several times a day, avoiding direct skin contact. Elevating the injured hand above heart level also helps minimize swelling and throbbing. Over-the-counter pain relievers can manage initial discomfort.
How Your Finger Heals
Healing time for a smashed finger varies by severity and location. Most minor smashed fingers, involving soft tissue bruising (contusion), improve significantly within three to four days. A contusion typically takes a few days to a few weeks to fully heal, with the bruise changing colors as it resolves.
If the injury causes bleeding under the fingernail (subungual hematoma), pain often comes from pressure buildup. While pain may subside in a few days, the discolored nail will grow out, taking 4 to 6 months. In some cases, the nail may lift or fall off within weeks, and a new nail will grow, potentially taking up to 9 months.
More severe injuries, such as finger fractures, take longer to heal. Simple fractures generally heal within 4 to 6 weeks. Complete recovery and return to full strength may take 3 to 4 months. Factors like fracture type, location, age, and overall health influence the healing timeline.
When to See a Doctor
While many smashed finger injuries can be managed at home, certain signs indicate professional medical attention. Seek medical help if pain is severe or doesn’t improve after a few days of home care. A doctor’s visit is also warranted if you suspect a broken bone, which might present as a misshapen or deformed finger, inability to move it without extreme pain, or a crack heard at the time of injury.
Other serious indicators include a deep wound that might require stitches, visible bone, or if the injury involves the finger joints, knuckle, palm, or wrist. Numbness, burning, or tingling sensations in the finger should also prompt a medical evaluation, as these could signify nerve damage. Signs of infection, such as increased pain, persistent redness, warmth, swelling, pus draining from the wound, or fever, necessitate immediate medical attention.
Supporting Your Recovery at Home
Even after initial assessment or medical consultation, continued home care plays a role in supporting the recovery of a smashed finger. Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help manage ongoing pain and inflammation. Protecting the injured finger from further trauma is important; this might involve avoiding activities that increase pain or put strain on the finger for several weeks.
Maintaining gentle movement of the finger, as pain allows, can promote circulation and prevent stiffness. This does not mean forcing movement, but rather gradually increasing activity once the initial pain and swelling subside. If the finger was splinted or buddy-taped by a medical professional, follow their instructions carefully regarding its care and removal. Monitoring the finger for any worsening symptoms or signs of complications, such as changes in color, increased swelling, or persistent numbness, is also important, prompting further medical advice if they occur.