From the Research
A child with a sprained 5th finger from a jamming injury should typically avoid sports for 2-4 weeks, depending on the severity of the sprain, as recommended by the most recent and highest quality study available 1. The severity of the sprain will determine the exact duration of rest, with mild sprains potentially allowing a return to sports after 2 weeks if the child can bend the finger without pain and has regained full strength, while moderate to severe sprains may require 3-4 weeks of rest. During recovery, the finger should be buddy-taped to the adjacent finger for support, and ice should be applied for 15-20 minutes several times daily for the first 48-72 hours to reduce swelling. Over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen (10 mg/kg every 6-8 hours) can help manage pain, as it has been shown to be superior to paracetamol in a range of painful conditions 2. Gentle range-of-motion exercises should begin after the acute pain subsides, usually within 3-5 days. The child can return to sports when they have full, pain-free range of motion, normal strength, and can properly grip equipment. This timeline allows the damaged ligaments to heal properly, preventing re-injury and long-term instability of the finger joint. Some key points to consider in the management of finger injuries include:
- Accurate diagnosis and classification of the injury to formulate a treatment protocol 3
- Emphasis on careful consideration of the implications of open reduction, rational splinting, and early, active, protected motion 3
- Prevention of injury through athlete education is paramount to athletic care 4
- A thorough knowledge of finger joint anatomy and injury mechanism is critical to perform an appropriate examination, establish an accurate diagnosis, and identify a treatment plan for each patient 4