A bruised hand

A bruised hand - the injury is extremely painful and vainly considered ordinary and not worthy of attention. In the hands, including in the fingers, there are a lot of nerve endings, which almost instantaneously transmit impulses-signals to the spinal cord. The structure of the fingers is a fairly fragile tubular bone, called digitus (finger), the bones are all cuticular, that is, without a layer of soft tissue and covered with skin.

Fingers are responsible for the motility, touch and transmission of signals to various organs through the spinal cord. The connection of the fingers to the cardiovascular system, digestive organs, the brain has long been proven, this information is widely used in acupuncture, manual treatment, diagnosis. Therefore, a bruise of the finger, which seems to be a minor injury, may have a distant effect on the functioning of a particular organ. In addition, due to the accumulation of a large number of nerve endings in the fingers and the absence of an amortization layer of soft tissues, any bruising of the finger is manifested with very severe pain. Swelling of the joint with severe trauma can last up to six months, causing discomfort and restricting normal movement. It is known that earlier in the Middle Ages the Inquisition practiced sophisticated torture in the form of blows on the fingers, it was believed that this pain is the most intense of all possible. In fact, in the tips of the fingers is a huge number of receptors that can react instantly to millions of stimuli. It is no coincidence that many modern digital high-definition devices are called digital - from the Latin word digitus (finger).

A bruised hand is divided into the following types of injuries: 

• Contusion of minor force without damage to the skin and complications. 
• Contusion, accompanied by damage to the skin (wound, pomozhennaya wound). 
• Contusion with a dislocation of the finger. 
• Contusion with a fracture of the finger. 
• Contusion with subungual hematoma.

The signs that show a bruised hand do not need a detailed description, since the painful sensations are so obvious that they can not be confused with anything. Symptoms can only indirectly give information confirming or refuting the presence of a fracture, which manifests itself in atypical mobility and the position of the finger, its deformation, hemorrhage into small joints.

What if there is a bruised hand?

• Immobilize, provide immobilization, you can fix it, pribintovav to a healthy neighboring finger. 
• Apply cold to the site of the injury (ice, a container of cold water). 
• If there are wounds, treat them with hydrogen peroxide before fixing the finger. 
• If the wound is crushed, it must be treated with hydrogen peroxide, then with ointment containing the antibiotic, a sterile napkin should be applied from above. Fixation should be gentle so as not to provoke tissue necrosis. 
• If the nail hematoma is extensive (more than half of the nail plate), you should consult your doctor. Also it is necessary to act in case the nail is damaged or removed as a result of an injury. 
• If there is a risk of sprain (increases swelling), you need to remove all the jewelry from your fingers as quickly as possible. 
• With severe pain, you can take spasmalgon or ketones. 
• If there is no fracture, on the second day on the finger apply ointments or gels containing diclofenac and heparin (alternate).

The bruise of the thumb should be differentiated from the fracture. Fracture is characterized by constant, unremitting pain, while with a bruise the pain sensations gradually pass. In addition, with a fracture, the pain radiates into the wrist, increases with the load on the arm (it is difficult to lift the object, take it in hand). Edema at a fracture is much more pronounced than with a simple bruise.

If the bruise of the finger is accompanied by a complex fracture, with a displacement of the fragments, the finger does not just swell, it becomes a cyanotic color, and then begins to blacken. Explicit deformation, non-standard position or bending of the entire finger or one phalanx indicates a serious trauma to the digits (fingers).

The bruised hand is treated according to the standard scheme used in the therapy of all types of injury: immobilization of the affected area, cold compress on the first day, then warming procedures are possible, applying resorptive ointments. A bruised finger that does not pass within 3-5 days requires professional medical attention.