Tuft Finger Fracture
Description
Tuft’s finger fracture (break) of the "tuft," is the distal tip of the last bone in the finger. It is also known as “distal phalanx fracture” or “P3 fracture” and is the most common fracture of the hand. The middle finger is most vulnerable to fracture simply because of its length compared with adjacent fingers. Most frequent cause of injury in children is getting the finger caught between two objects, such as the door. In adults, industrial accidents and activities in which the fingertip is compressed between objects. Common for the nail bed to be injured with the tuft fracture. General risk factors for fractures include: osteoporosis, post-menopause, poor nutrition, and participating in contact sports.
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Signs & Symptoms
- Pain, often severe
- Swelling and tenderness
- Possible deformity at the fracture site
- Inability to move finger without pain or difficulty
Diagnostic Tests
- X-rays of the hand are used to identify broken bones and the type of fracture
PT Implications
- Assessment of the wound, a pain rating (Visual Analog Scale), edema measurement
- Focus on eliminating pain and hypersensitivity
- Patient education
- Exercises are performed 4-6x daily as tolerated
- AAROM by 3 weeks and unrestricted PROM by 4 weeks to regain joint mobility
[Finger Fracture resources listed under References section]
Picture taken from: http://www.aafp.org/afp/2001/0515/p1961.html#afp20010515p1961-f5
Picture taken from: http://www.aafp.org/afp/2001/0515/p1961.html#afp20010515p1961-f5