Content

• Steps
• Warning

A tendon rupture is a rupture of the tendon in the outer joint of a finger, causing the tip of the finger to bend down. This disease, also known as "baseball finger", is a common injury when playing sports. However, any movement that causes the joint to over flex is likely to cause this condition. You may even break a tendon while cleaning your bed.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: First Aid

1. 

   Diagnose the wound. First, you should make sure that it is true that the finger has broken the stretched tendon muscle. If so, the last joint on the finger (the one closest to the nail) will be sore. The joint will be bent inward and unable to move, preventing the finger from straightening.

2. 

   
   
   Apply ice indirectly. Ice will help reduce swelling and pain in the joints. However, you should not apply ice directly to the skin, but wrap ice in a cotton towel or use a bag of frozen vegetables to apply it to the wound.

3. 

   
   
   Use conventional pain relievers. If the pain is severe, there are several pain relievers available to help you feel better. These include: Advil, Motrin, Aleve, Naprosyn, and Tylenol. Use these medications during treatment if the pain persists. The drugs above (except Tylenol) are also anti-inflammatory, helping to reduce pain and swelling.

4. 

   
   
   Make a temporary splint. You should see your doctor for a proper brace. But if you can't do this right away, try making your own straightening finger brace. Take a popsicle stick and place it under your finger. Wrap the bandage around your finger and the popsicle stick so that the tape holds your finger firmly on the stick, creating pads for your finger. The purpose of this is to keep the finger straight.
   • If your finger is folded too much, the healing process will slow down. Any straight, rigid object can be used as a splint, provided it is strong enough to hold the finger in place. The tape is also required to be wrapped tightly enough that the finger cannot move leading to a curl, but not too tight to block blood circulation, or cause the finger to become numb and discolored.
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Part 2 of 2: Seeking Medical Assistance

1. 

   See a doctor immediately. The earlier you see your doctor for a finger brace, the faster the wound will heal. You should do this within a few days, if not the day of your injury. Your doctor will take an x-ray and determine if the tendon is broken and if there is any broken bone along the tendon. Your doctor will also recommend treatment - usually a brace.
   • In rare cases, wearing a brace can seriously affect your job - if you're a surgeon, for example - an alternative is to attach clamps inside your finger to keep it straight.

2. 

   Choose a brace. There are many different types of braces. Each affects the way you use your finger in different ways. Talk to your doctor about your routine and job so he can choose the type of brace that is best for you. Options include the splint, aluminum splint, and the Oval-8 Finger brace. The third type of brace has the lowest finger coverage and is usually the splint that takes up the least area.

3. 

   Wear the brace correctly. Wear the brace tight enough to keep your finger completely straight.If the finger is bent, you will experience sharp pain in the knuckle. Do not apply the bandage too tightly, making the tip of your finger uncomfortable or purple.

4. 

   Wear the brace repeatedly until told to stop by your doctor. While wearing a brace is uncomfortable, it is imperative that you keep your finger straight. If the finger is bent, the healing tendon may break. If this happens, you must go through the entire treatment process again.
   • You may want to remove the brace when you shower. One of the advantages of the Ovel-8 Finger brace is that it is water resistant. If you are using a different brace, put your finger in a plastic bag or use a glove.

5. 

   Update your situation with your doctor. After about 6 to 8 weeks, the doctor will change the treatment method. If it does, your doctor will let you remove the brace gradually, for example you only need to wear the brace at nighttime.

6. 

   Perform surgery. Surgery is very rarely needed for a stretched tendon rupture. However, if the x-ray shows that your bones are also fractured, you will likely need surgery. Except in this case, surgery is not recommended. Surgery usually does not yield better and sometimes worse results than using the traditional method with the brace.
   • About 10 days after surgery, you will need a follow-up visit to remove the sutures and monitor the progress of the wound.
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Warning

• The healing process will take some time. You will be in a splint continuously for at least six weeks, possibly more, depending on how quickly the wound is healed.