The proximal phalanx is one of the three bones that make up your finger. It is the first bone in your finger after your palm. Fractures of this bone are particularly common in children and we treat lots of them in the clinic.

Common causes, signs & symptoms of injury

A proximal phalanx fracture often occurs during contact sports, from a ball hitting the finger or a collision with another player. A fall or an accident, such as getting the finger caught in something, can also cause this injury.

Signs & symptoms to look out for are swelling and tenderness at the base of the finger. There may also be bruising in the area. An x-ray is required to diagnose the fracture.

Common treatments

A fracture that is non-displaced or minimally displaced can usually be treated conservatively. Your hand therapist can fabricate a custom-made thermoplastic splint to immobilise the fingers and allow for appropriate healing.

Here are some photos of a splint for a ring finger proximal phalanx fracture.

If the bone is fractured in a way that there are many pieces or the bone is displaced, this may require an appointment with a surgeon. Your hand therapist can also discuss this with you.

Exercises and recovery

Range of motion exercises are included as part of the recovery process. These are usually finger flexion and extension exercises. It is important to complete your exercises within a pain-free range. Exercises should be completed regularly throughout the day and light use of the hand can also aid in recovery.

Your hand therapist can create an exercise program that is tailored to your injury and difficulties. If you have broken your finger, please don’t hesitate to book an appointment. We’d be more than happy to help.

HTG-Trigger-FInger

Clicking and locking of a finger or thumb is generally known as a “Trigger finger” or “Trigger thumb.” This is a common condition involving inflammation or thickening of the tendon that bends your fingers or thumb. The tendon passes through a pulley in the palm of the hand, however when the tendon is inflamed, it can catch or lock as you make a fist or grip items.  

Trigger-Finger
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Joint pain from osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are often flared up during colder weather. Arthritis in the hand commonly occurs at the thumb carpometacarpal joint, fingertips or known as the distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ) and metacarpal joint. Arthritis can also occur at the wrist. Here we take a look at different ways of managing arthritis and how a hand therapist can help. 

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Finger injuries are generally known as a ‘jarred finger.’ It commonly occurs in sports such as netball, AFL, oz tag and rugby. Quite often they are left untreated and can lead to swelling, stiffness, pain and finger deformities. Here we take a look at the most common finger injuries and how a Hand Therapist can help.

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Here we take a look at how to prevent common injuries associated with playing netball, such as an injury to the volar plate ligament.

For a non-contact sport we see a lot of netball-related finger injuries! This is most commonly caused by the ball hitting the end of the finger, which forces the finger into hyperextension, sustaining an injury to the volar plate ligament at the front of the middle joint.

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