Injured little fingers

Angelina, a three year old, was fond of following her mother as she went about her chores. One time though, her mother did not hear the little footsteps behind her, so she immediately closed the door after entering the kitchen. What followed was Angelina’s screams. Her finger had been clipped into the shut door.

Such are common accidents at home especially among children. The injury can be in several categories.
These include:

• Damage to skin and soft tissue of the finger
• Damage to the nail and nail bed
• Damage to the bone

Fingertips tend to be the most sensitive after injury because they are rich in nerves and are extremely sensitive. A dislocation may occur to a joint and cause a bone to move out of its normal alignment with another bone. Seek immediate medical help so that the doctor can examine the finger or fingers. This is because lack of prompt and proper care can make the injury affect the hand’s function.

First Aid
If the finger is intact

• Raise the injured finger to manage the bleeding
• Apply ice to reduce bleeding and swelling 
• Dress the wound with a material that is dry and sterile
• Halt any movement of your child’s hand and wrist with a short splint

If a fingertip is crushed

• Wash the finger with soap and water for five minutes
• Trim any small pieces of torn skin with disinfected, fine scissors
• Cover any cuts with an antibiotic ointment and bandage
• Give a pain reliever

Treatment
Treating an injury depends on the injury’s extent, the age of your child, his health and angle of the cut. The doctor will:

• Give a jab to relieve pain
• He will then wash the wound with salty water or a saline solution to remove debris and possible contaminants

The surgeon may try to reconnect the part that has been separated so that it continues to grow normally. This can be done even if the injury reached the bone. The reconnection is especially achievable in toddlers.

END: BL 31 / 28