1. Least Effective Exercises Slideshow
2. Dehydration Slideshow
3. First Aid Care and Pain Relief for Minor Injuries

Medical Author:

Kevin P Collins, MD

Coauthor:

Robert McCormack, MD

Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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The doctor will realign the dislocated bones with a simple technique. This will often require a local anesthetic injection into the finger to help decrease or stop the pain and allow the doctor to reduce the dislocation and realign the bones. The patient may also receive medications by mouth, injection, or IV to help the pain and ease the reduction.

• The injured finger will then be placed in a protective splint or be "buddy taped" to the healthy finger next to it.
• The doctor may order a second X-ray to confirm the realignment of the finger and to check for any broken bones that may not have shown up on the first X-ray.

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