Getting my finger pinned - what actually happens

[BermyAndy]

Broke my finger last weekend playing rugby, and now got to have it pinned tomorrow. Anyone had this before? Or anyone know what happens? Do they actually cut the finger open or do they just pin through the skin?!

[Six Fiend]

Depending on the break (mine was diagonal between the knuckle and joint nearer finger tip) they can either put a pin straight in through the tip or through tiny incisions from the sides diagonally - Kuchnen nails iirc.

Mine was crushed through some very strong gloves in a motorcycle crash 18 years ago (I hit something very metal rather fast!) so was very messy indeed. The top joint was mullered and so is now fixed solid.

[SeeFive]

Generally, they go in through the neck and insert a 6mm threaded rod down the torso, through the penis and then back up and down your arm into the finger.. This might smart a bit, but I am no surgeon so it could be completely painless.

Having a look at Google, there seem to be different processes for different types of injury.

Good luck, I hope it's as painless as poss for you.

[AngryS3Owner]

My dad had k wires (I think they're called) put through the end of three of his fingers when he had a slight accident with a router still spinning at around 33,000 rpm.

Looks like they just drilled straight in throught the tips and leave them poking out the end, the only wierd bit was when they were being pulled out with a pair of pliers from what he said.

[Cat7SuperLight]

I had 2 K wires in a finger over two years ago no pain at all I was knocked out at the time as my finger needed to be brocken again as it had set wrong.

As s3 said the worrying part is getting the wires removed with a pair of pliers only slight discomfort.

[BermyAndy]

Ive broken the bottom of the little finger i.e. the bit closest to my hand

According to the x rays its kind of sheared diagonally down the whole bottomsection of finger, between my knuckle and first joint, altough critically all my joints seem fine. That bit of bone is in 3 pieces though, which i have to say looks pretty cool!

I guess maybe they will go in the side?

[RickH]

BermyAndy said:

Broke my finger last weekend playing rugby, and now got to have it pinned tomorrow. Anyone had this before? Or anyone know what happens? Do they actually cut the finger open or do they just pin through the skin?!

My brother did exactly the same, playing rugby. He split the first knuckle from the hand on his ring finger, left hand (incidentally, he's getting married and it's going to be interesting getting a ring to fit, anyway, I digress).

They cut the skin on the top of the knuckle at the joint and repaired the joint. The pin was left sticking out and pointing backwards to the back of his hand. To remove, same as already mentioned:

AngryS3Owner said:

...the only wierd bit was when they were being pulled out with a pair of pliers from what he said.

The only real downside was the lack of mobility caused by the pin now means that he has reduced movement in that joint and he can't extend the finger completely flat. But that may come down to physio as well.

RickH

[Sicob]

i broke mine playing american football. They drilled through the end of my finger under local. inserted the pin, which stuck out the end of my finger. In for a couple of months then pulled i tout with plier. I had tendons reattached too, so dont know how different this is, as to whether you'd have the pin permanently if completely broken. Mine was fractured.

[AngryS3Owner]

RickH said:

The only real downside was the lack of mobility caused by the pin now means that he has reduced movement in that joint and he can't extend the finger completely flat. But that may come down to physio as well.

Yep, dad couldn't move his hand at all for over a month from memory due to the extent of the damage then had loads of physio / exercises after to get full movement back, some of his fingers are still wonky but hey at least he has them

[BermyAndy]

I would love to be back playing rugby in jan so for once in my life will be doing exactly what the doc and physio tell me!

[whitechief]

I had 5 Kirschner wires or 'K' wires in my elbow and upper arm. They took them out under general anaesthetic, except they managed to leave one in by mistake
So I went to see the Consultant on an emergency appointment, because the wire had gone under the flesh and was stabbing me from the inside. He says "no problem we'll do it now" and goes next door, I'm thinking he's getting his precision engineered removal tool, no, comes back with a scalpul and a pair of B&Q pliers

Don't worry about them they're not a big discomfort (at least mine weren't).

[AbarthChris]

I had K wires inserted into my 5th Metacarpal (base of thumb). They do drill straight through the skin and leave a couple of cm's poking out to remove with pliers as others have said.

A little discomfort but nothing major, the trainee nurse watching was more disturbed than me!

[BermyAndy]

swerni said:

broken little finger stopping you playing

must be a back

I have my left index finger pinned to my hand.
It consists of a 3/4" plate and a number of small screws

Broke it in the first half playing rugby against Dorking.

Still managed to finish the match

did put me out for a few months though

Prop, and played out the remaining 75 minutes of the game. However, lifting proved nigh on impossible, as was scrumming as couldnt get a bind with the 2 fingers strapped up

[BermyAndy]

swerni said:

BermyAndy said:

swerni said:

broken little finger stopping you playing

must be a back

I have my left index finger pinned to my hand.
It consists of a 3/4" plate and a number of small screws

Broke it in the first half playing rugby against Dorking.

Still managed to finish the match

did put me out for a few months though

Prop, and played out the remaining 75 minutes of the game. However, lifting proved nigh on impossible, as was scrumming as couldnt get a bind with the 2 fingers strapped up

I know that feeling

second row

Whats the movement like in your finger with the plate?