Broken Fingers: Why They Need Special Treatment and Care

First published July 2018
Updated April 2026

Finger fractures are very common, disruptive injuries in children. These fractures come in all shapes and sizes, with some injuries more serious than others. Many finger fractures can be treated in a splint or a cast, but some need surgery. Fortunately, with appropriate treatment most finger fractures will heal well so your child can return to normal activities.

The most common types of finger fractures include:

• Crush/Tuft fractures - These breaks happen when the finger is crushed or hit hard near the fingertip. Most commonly they occur when a finger gets slammed in a door. These fractures can affect the fingernail, bone and tissue, causing pain, deformity, blood under the nail, swelling, bruising and even bone sticking out through the skin. These fractures usually require a splint or cast but generally heal very well.
• Seymour fractures – These are very serious injuries which require a procedure to be performed in the emergency department or in the operating room. They are growth plate injuries that are open and thus are at risk for infection. Patients need to take a course of antibiotics. The three concerns with these fractures are growth arrest (the bone stops growing), deep infection and nail deformity.
• Phalangeal neck fractures – This injury usually happens when a finger takes a direct hit, often during sports. It causes pain, swelling and loss of motion in the finger. It usually requires surgery (placing pins and a cast) to heal correctly.
• Mallet finger fractures – These injuries often occur in baseball, volleyball, and basketball, or any activity when the fingertip takes a direct hit. The hit bends the fingertip so far that it causes the tip of the finger to sag or droop (what we call an “extensor lag”). It also causes swelling, pain and bruising. Most of these injuries only require a simple splint, but it is very important that the splint is worn at all times for 4–6 weeks.
• Volar plate fractures – This type of fracture affects the middle joint in the finger when it is over-extended, “jammed” or “sprained.” It can injure the ligament and disconnect a small piece of bone in the joint, causing swelling, pain, bruising and loss of motion. With a few days of splinting and then buddy taping to mobilize the finger, these injuries usually heal quite well. Long term, the joint might be a little “bulkier” than others.

What to Do if Your Child has an Injured Finger

If your child has an injured, swollen finger, don’t try to treat it at home; get an x-ray. It is very hard to tell if a finger is sprained or broken without an x-ray. Children begin to heal very quickly, and if you wait a week to get care for a fracture, your child may have already begun to heal in a way that could cause long-term pain, arthritis, or deformity of the finger.

When in doubt, get the finger checked! Once you know for sure, you can follow the right tips for pain management, finger care and follow-up.

Care Tips for a Fractured Finger

Having a broken hand affects almost everything your child does. From bathing to doing schoolwork, your child will have to learn a new way of doing things while the broken finger is taped, splinted, pinned, or in a cast.

Here are a few tips for care while treating your child’s broken finger:

1. Get creative with hygiene. You can buy a cast cover, but a plastic bag and duct tape do the trick just as well. Cover the hand during showers and use an electric toothbrush to make it easier for your child to brush their teeth with the non-dominant hand if their dominant hand is injured.
2. Expect your child to need lots of help. Your child will likely need assistance carrying things, taking care of personal hygiene, doing homework and taking part in other activities that they previously did unaided. Offer help repeatedly until your child gets into a new routine for self-care. Remember, this is only temporary!
3. Make it easy. Pants with elastic waistbands rather than buttons and zippers and shirts with loose sleeves will make it easier for your child to get dressed. Choose slip-on shoes or sandals. Consider headbands instead of ponytails and other simple substitutions to make dressing easier. Avoid prepackaged foods packed in lunches that require dexterity to open, such as twist caps, foil packaging lids, etc.
4. Talk to your child’s school. Schools are required to offer accommodations for kids with injuries. Bring a note from the doctor explaining the injury, what type of help is needed and for how long. Your child may be partnered with a care assistant during the school day, receive more time for exams, or receive alternative homework assignments that don’t require handwriting or typing.
5. Follow the doctor’s instructions. Your child will likely need to avoid rigorous activities for at least one month—in some cases more. They may also be told not to lift, jump, or do other strenuous activities until the finger is well healed. You may be asked to ice the finger to reduce swelling. The doctor may also prescribe medications to prevent infection, reduce swelling and ease pain. Follow up with the doctor according to your child’s care plan to make sure their finger heals properly.

Click here to learn more about the Hand and Upper Extremity Program at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.