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Finger,Hand,and Wrist Injuries

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Check Your Symptoms

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, click on the "Yes" in front of the question for information about how soon to see a health professional.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

Step One

Step Two

Step Three

If you have any of the following symptoms, evaluate those symptoms first.

Bleeding: Go to the topic Cuts or Scrapes.
Puncture wound or injection of a foreign body under high pressure: Go to the topic Puncture Wounds.
A finger, hand, or wrist problem not related to an injury: Go to the topic Finger, Hand, and Wrist Problems, Noninjury.
Injury from cold exposure: Go to the topic Cold Temperature Exposure.
A burn to a finger, hand, or wrist: Go to the topic Burns.
A bite to a finger, hand, or wrist: Go to the topic Animal and Human Bites.
A fingernail problem or blood under a nail: Go to the topic Nail Problems and Injuries.


	Yes

Is your finger, hand, or wrist twisted, bent out of shape, or out of its normal position?


	Yes

Do you have pain or tenderness in your finger, hand, or wrist?


	Yes

Are your fingers or hands pale, white, blue, or cold?


	Yes

Do you have numbness or tingling in an injured finger, hand, or wrist?


	Yes

Are you unable to move your fingers, hand, or wrist normally?


	Yes

Is your finger, hand, or wrist swollen after an injury?


	Yes

Did you feel or hear a snap, pop, or grating in your finger, hand, or wrist?


	Yes

Are you unable to free a trapped finger or hand from an object such as a toy, bottle, or jar?


	Yes

Do you have signs of infection in your finger, hand, or wrist?


	Yes

Is an object, such as a nail, embedded in your finger or hand?


	Yes

Do you think the injury may have been caused by abuse?


	Yes

Do you have bruising of your finger, hand, or wrist?


	Yes

Do you know or think you need a tetanus shot?


	Yes

Does your finger, hand, or wrist look twisted, bent out of shape, or out of its normal position?


	Yes

Do you have a blood-filled blister, scrape, or cut skin at the site of a suspected broken bone or dislocation?


	Yes

Did your finger, hand, or wrist pop, move, or get pulled out of its normal position, then return to its normal position?


	Yes

Does your finger continue to look misshapen from an injury that occurred more than 2 weeks ago?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Do you have severe pain?


	Yes

Do you have pain with swelling or bruising that began within 30 minutes of an injury?


	Yes

Is a young child protecting an injured hand or wrist carefully or unwilling or unable to use it?


	Yes

Do you have moderate pain that is getting worse or has not gotten better after 24 hours of home treatment?


	Yes

Does normal use of your finger, hand, or wrist cause pain after 24 hours of home treatment?


	Yes

Do you have mild pain that has not gotten better after 1 week of home treatment?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Has a finger or hand turned pale, white, blue, or cold after an injury?


	Yes

After having a brace, cast, or splint applied, have your fingers or hand turned pale, white, blue, or cold? Note: See first aid for a cast or splint that may be too tight.

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Do you have new numbness or tingling and the skin on the injured hand is more pale, white, blue, or cold than the uninjured hand?


	Yes

Do you have new numbness or tingling and you are unable to move your finger or hand normally (not because a splint is in the way or because of pain)?


	Yes

Have you had steady numbness or tingling for 1 hour or longer?


	Yes

Has numbness or tingling become worse?


	Yes

Have you had numbness or tingling that comes and goes for 24 hours or longer?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Are you unable to move an injured finger, hand, or wrist?


	Yes

After having a brace, cast, or splint applied, are you unable to move your fingers or hand normally (not because the splint is in the way)?


	Yes

Are you unable to make a complete fist?


	Yes

Are you unable to straighten all your fingers?


	Yes

Are you unable to bend or straighten your wrist?


	Yes

Are you unable to grasp an object?


	Yes

Is a young child unwilling or unable to use a finger, hand, or wrist, or protecting a hand carefully?


	Yes

Are you unable to move your hand or wrist normally, or do you have decreased strength after 48 hours of home treatment?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Do you have swelling and the skin below the swollen area is cold or pale?


	Yes

Did a lot of swelling develop within 30 minutes of an injury?


	Yes

Do you have moderate swelling after 48 hours of home treatment?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Did you feel or hear a snap, pop, or grating, and a lot of swelling developed within 30 minutes after the injury?


	Yes

Did you feel or hear a snap, pop, or grating, and your finger, hand, or wrist looks twisted, bent, or out of its normal position?


	Yes

Did you feel or hear a snap, pop, or grating, and you are unable to move your hand or wrist normally?


	Yes

Did you feel or hear a snap, pop, or grating, but you do not have other changes?


	Yes

Does your finger, hand, or wrist feel unstable when you try to use it?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Do you have severe pain?


	Yes

Is your trapped finger or hand pale, white, blue, or cold when compared to the other hand?


	Yes

Do you have numbness or tingling in your finger or hand?


	Yes

Are you unable to free a trapped finger or hand from an object using home treatment measures?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Do you have diabetes?


	Yes

Do you have peripheral arterial disease?


	Yes

Do you have a disease or take a medicine that causes problems with your immune system?


	Yes

Do you have red streaks extending from the injured area?


	Yes

Do you have increased pain, swelling, redness, or warmth around the injured area?


	Yes

Is your finger, hand, or wrist increasingly tender to the touch?


	Yes

Do you have any drainage of pus?


	Yes

Do you know or think you have a fever?


	Yes

Have you had mild pain and swelling with redness less than around the area for 24 hours or longer?


	Yes

Have you had swollen glands (lymph nodes) in the neck, armpit, or the bend of the elbow for 24 hours or longer?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Are you unable to remove an object, such as a sliver, needle, or nail, that is in or near a joint?


	Yes

Are you unable to remove an object, such as a sliver, needle, or nail, that is not in or near a joint?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Do you think the injury may have been caused by abuse?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Did a large, painful, swollen bruise develop within 30 minutes of an injury?


	Yes

Are you concerned about how easily you bruise?


	Yes

Have bruises from an injury lasted longer than 2 weeks?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Were you cut by something clean and your last tetanus shot was longer than 10 years ago?Note: Something is clean if it does not have dirt, soil, spit, or feces on it. Examples include a broken water glass, a kitchen knife, or sewing scissors.


	Yes

Were you cut by something dirty and your last tetanus shot was longer than 5 years ago?Note: Something is dirty if it has dirt, soil, spit, or feces on it. Examples include a garden tool, a dirty nail, or a piece of glass that has been buried in the dirt.


	Yes

Are you not sure if you were cut by something clean or dirty and your last tetanus shot was longer than 5 years ago?


	Yes

Are you not sure when you had your last tetanus shot?


	Yes

Did you not get the first series of tetanus shots?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

If a visit to a health professional is not needed immediately, see the Home Treatment section for self-care information.

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: November 03, 2010

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.