A broken finger can be an extremely inconvenient injury, and the symptoms of a broken finger come with some degree of pain. Symptoms typically begin immediately after the finger is broken, and the severity of symptoms can reflect the seriousness of the break. The ability to move the finger may or may not be impaired, which can be deceiving to those who still have some range of motion left in the finger.
Most of the time, the symptoms of a fractured finger include an inability to move it. In some cases, depending on how the bone is fractured, it may still be possible to bend a broken finger. Even if it can be moved, movement will be accompanied by pain. If the injury is at the tip of the finger, there may be blood under the fingernail and a bruised appearance at the end of the finger. More severe breaks can result in the outward appearance of a crooked finger or joints that sit at an odd angle.
Within minutes after the break, the area around the fracture will begin to swell. This swelling will quickly spread throughout the entire finger. Numbness can also set in with the swelling, making the area tender and warm to the touch. The swelling can interfere with the nerves, making even the other fingers numb. Before swelling becomes severe, the application of an ice pack wrapped in a cloth can help keep the swelling down and reduce the impact on other fingers.
In some severe breaks, symptoms of a fracture can include tearing of the skin as well as the tendons and tissues beneath the skin. Pieces of bone can also puncture the skin and be clearly visible. These compound fractures can necessitate surgery to secure the break with screws to ensure that it heals correctly.
Joint stiffness can be an ongoing problem in fingers that have been broken. When symptoms of a broken finger are not attended to properly and set by a professional, the finger can heal at an awkward angle that can make activities requiring fine motor skills a challenge. At times a broken finger can be difficult to diagnose when the fracture is hairline, but continuous pain is one of the most telling signs that something is wrong. Pain is not always unbearable in minor fractures, but these small breaks can compromise the strength of the finger and should be attended to as thoroughly as a severe fracture.