Knuckle refers to joints of your fingers that form when you make a fist or clench your hand. A dislocated knuckle occurs when your finger joints are displaced from the place but without damage to the bones. In this condition, the bones of your fingers move sideways or apart and the ends of the bones are not in line as they should.
Dislocated knuckle is a very common condition which can occur to anyone. Displacement can occur in any of your finger joints but it affects mostly your little finger, the index and the ring.
A dislocated knuckle is very painful and can lead to other health complications such as arthritis if not treated early.
Causes
Several causes are responsible for causing dislocated knuckle. They include:
- Playing sports: Playing certain sports can dislocate your knuckle. For example when you play basketball, your fingers can be hit hard by the ball which causes the finger to dislocate. Another example when you are playing hockey, an opponent can accidently hit your finger with the hockey stick or with a ball which causes your finger to be displaced.
- Accidents: You may be involved in accident that can cause your fingers to dislocate. For instance when you are involved in a road accident or fall from a tree or building, you can displace your fingers if you fall on the ground with your hands.
Symptoms
A dislocated knuckle presents the following symptoms:
- Your finger or knuckle can be become swollen which is accompanied by severe pain. The bones in your finger may appear bent .Your fingers can become pale because blood vessels in your finger have been damaged and no blood is flowing there.
- Your affected finger may curve or bend in a peculiar angle or upwards. This may make it difficult for you to straighten the affected finger. The skin around the affected finger may appear bruised or cut. In case the dislocation is very severe, you will experience numbness and tingling in the affected finger as well as excessive bleeding.
Diagnosis
Dislocated knuckle can be diagnosed through physical examination. Your doctor will examine your hand and fingers for swellings and bend fingers.
Your doctor may also order other tests to assess the extent of damage in your finger. The following will be used:
- X-ray: Your doctor will perform x-rays on your affected finger to find out the exact place of the damaged knuckle and whether you have a fracture or not.
Treatment for Dislocated knuckle
Treatment for dislocated knuckle focuses on realigning the affected finger and alleviating the associated symptoms such as pain and swellings. Treatment can involve the following:
- Home remedies: Getting first aid immediately when you dislocate your finger can boost your healing by reducing pain. You can do the following simple home remedies:
- Use ice: Applying ice on the affected finger can help lessen swellings and pain. Take a few cubes of ice and put on a clean cloth and apply on the affected finger. Do this regularly until the swelling reduces.
- Elevate your finger: Another way of reducing swelling is to raise the affected finger. Elevating the finger lowers blood flow to the affected finger which assists in decreasing the swelling.
- Medications: Medications can also be used to reduce swellings in the affected finger. You can use anti-inflammatory and pain relieving drugs to alleviate swellings and pain such as ibuprofen.
- Realignment and reduction: Your doctor may suggest realignment and reduction to help straighten the affected finger. These methods are only used if there is no swelling, pain and tenderness in the affected area. During realignment and reduction, you will be given anesthesia to reduce pain and make you comfortable. Your doctor will push your dislocated bone causing it to disentangle if it was caught by the joints in the sides. Once the bone is freed, your doctor pulls the affected finger in a certain manner until it is back to its normal place. Once the displaced joint has been brought back to its position, your doctor will give you a tape or a splint to wear for about six weeks depending on the severity of the dislocation. A tape or splint is used to restrict your finger from moving which can worsen the situation. In addition, use of splint and tape enhances faster healing and recovery from dislocation.
- Surgery: In case the dislocation is severe in which there is a fracture or damage to a ligament in your finger, surgery will be used to correct the problem. It will take you about six weeks to fully recover from surgery on the dislocated finger and resume your normal daily activities.
What is the healing time for a dislocated knuckle?
Dislocated knuckle will get cured on its own after a few days or weeks. But proper treatment is needed to ensure it heals properly. Failure to get the right treatment can cause other health complications such as arthritis and deformity.
