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Original poster

Has anyone sliced/damaged the ligament in their finger? ***WARNING potentially gross picture inside***

49 replies

ThatOneHurt · 08/12/2018 14:32

4 weeks ago I got called into my sons school because he sliced his finger open with a knife while mucking around during foodtech Hmm

It was small but nasty and I could clearly see the ligaments.

I took him straight to minor injuries who cleaned it up, glued it and sent us on our way.

A week ago, he showed me that he could no longer bend the end of his finger. But it seemed very minor and at this point the cut had healed. I spoke to my mum who is a HCP and she seemed to think there isn't no much they can do now it's healed and it's a small finger as opposed to his hand or index finger.

Now he is experiencing pain in his hand and pain up and down that finger.
I'm making an appointment for first thing Monday but in the mean time I wondered if anyone had done the same or child or partner had done the same and experienced a late aftermath of pain like DS is?

I have a picture of the cut if it helps but it seriously isn't for the faint hearted. 🤢

OP posts:
EleanorShellstropper · 08/12/2018 20:09

I cut my index finger to the bone, on the knuckle, with a ceramic dish I dropped in the sink, last year (that was a fun sight [grin[ ). It was the morning when I was going on holiday so I nipped to Boots, steri-stripped it up with antiseptic and wrapped my hand in a bandage and off I went.

6 months later it still really hurt to move so I went to the doctor, who rolled his eyes at me and said "of course it still hurts". These things take time.

Over a year and a half later and I can attest to that fact. I'll probably never have the same movement in my finger but it's painless now and I have a cool scar to gross people out with

Dottysmum18 · 08/12/2018 20:38

Partners finger crush injury vertical fracture tendons and nerve damage more gross pics and x-ray available
Gets sore in the cold loss of dexterity and scar pain

easyandy101 · 08/12/2018 20:41

ay carumba I could have lived without seeing that one

Dottysmum18 · 08/12/2018 20:42

More for viewing lol

Original poster
ThatOneHurt · 08/12/2018 22:50

Yeah that's not for me either
I should have listened to my own thread title warning.

OP posts:
Hezz · 08/12/2018 23:03

I bet that smarted a bit, Dotty.

MrsSarahSiddons · 08/12/2018 23:07

He may have nerve damage. If so it's best to try to have it surgically repaired. He may nevertheless lose sensation but if it goes unrepaired it can cause actual pain which is worse than no sensation. That's what they said when I sliced my thumb and they operated on it. Now sensation is limited but I do have some sensation. And no pain.

PeanuttyButter · 08/12/2018 23:10

That’s awful Grin
As for the OP someone I know has the same issue with her little finger. She
Can bend it with her other hand but it doesn’t stay just bounces up and down although it no longer hurts so I believe.

DoAsSayNotAsDo · 08/12/2018 23:11

Was an ENP in A&E for several years, in the OP's pic can see adipose tissue, but possible damage could've been done if injury occurred with the point of the knife which would've penetrated. Would be wanting to check that range of movement and sensation were checked & recorded on his notes at the time.
Dotty... wow - thank you for posting the pics & XR... am now happily ensconced in a community role but still miss treating & dressing wounds/reviewing xr's! Wink

Original poster
ThatOneHurt · 08/12/2018 23:13

Thanks that's helpful info DoAsSay

OP posts:
Original poster
ThatOneHurt · 11/12/2018 15:07

We have just got back from the doctor who made an urgent referral to the orthopaedic doctors.

I asked what they would do and she said maybe exploratory stuff. She didn't sound very sure, which is fair enough, it's not her field.

Does anyone know what they might do? For example is it possible for them to scan the finger/hand as opposed to jump in with exploratory surgery?

Problem is the pain is effecting the working of his hand and it's his dominant hand which is why she has taken it so seriously.

@CuppaTeaAndAJammieDodger did your DP have a scan or X-ray or just straight to surgery?

OP posts:
Original poster
ThatOneHurt · 11/12/2018 15:08

@DoAsSayNotAsDo
Tagging you as well if that's ok because you seemed versed in busted fingers. Also, what is an ENP?

OP posts:
Original poster
ThatOneHurt · 11/12/2018 15:10

Emergency nurse practioner! Gotcha!

We went to minor injuries when it was done and they never checked his range of movement or feeling.
The GP did and straight away noticed reduced movement.

OP posts:
BentNeckLady · 11/12/2018 15:11

I did. I stabbed a bit of glass in the side of my index finger knuckle and couldn’t bend it much for a couple of months. It took a year to go back to normal and is now fine, just a bit stiffer that the other one.

Original poster
ThatOneHurt · 11/12/2018 15:13

That's good to know!

OP posts:
DoAsSayNotAsDo · 11/12/2018 18:58

Hey @ThatOneHurt sounds like you've seen a sensible GP aware of their limitations & so has ref on to the specialists.
Would expect ortho's to do a full examination of the range of active movements (what he can do himself) passive movement (when the dr tries to move it over normal movements is there any pain or restrictions.
They'll also check his sensation/track nerves along the finger.
Unless there is any concern about there being a foreign body in the wound I wouldn't expect them to XR as it doesn't sound like there is anything left in the wound/any bony injury.
But would expect them to give you a through picture of what to expect/if he will recover/if further treatment (either physio or surgical) if required.

Best of luck luv x

ChristmasFlary · 11/12/2018 19:09

I'm surprised they glued it when there were tendons showing.

Original poster
ThatOneHurt · 11/12/2018 19:22

@DoAsSayNotAsDo

Thank you. That's basically exactly what I was expecting they might do. I said to DH I doubt they will do exploratory surgery but better to hear that from those in the know then from me or the GP. I'm hoping for reassurance from them rather than anything else.
Thanks for your advice!

OP posts:
Original poster
ThatOneHurt · 11/12/2018 19:24

ChristmasFlary I was surprised as well!
But the nurse and the boss nurse both looked and agreed it was a case of gluing.

OP posts:
ThistleAmore · 11/12/2018 19:29

Yeah, sliced through two to the bone and had surgery to repair the damage.

Took a long time to recover, but they did, and I have full movement and sensation, bar a bit of tingling in one fingertip when it's cold.

Original poster
ThatOneHurt · 11/01/2019 13:56

Just wanted to update in case anyone searches this or whatnot.
Just saw orthopaedic doctor who has referred DS to a plastic surgeon. He has cut the tendon which snapped back and has resided as a lump in the palm of his hand.
It's a pretty major (in terms of hands and healing, that is) to find the tendon and put it back together so we are going to discuss our options with the surgeon when the appointment arrives. We'll have a few options apparently, but best to get those options from the expert.

Who knew that you get specialist paediatric hand plastic surgeons?!

Or rather, plastic surgeons who specialise in children's hands.
So niche, and interesting, although I did feel a bit faint when he described the tendon snapping back. 🤢

OP posts:
DoAsSayNotAsDo · 12/01/2019 23:24

@ThatOneHurt thanks for the update - fingers crossed all goes ok x

Bowchicawowow · 12/01/2019 23:27

I sliced through my index finger about 12 years ago. I have full movement but it still isn’t right and feels painful in cold weather.

GallicosCats · 12/01/2019 23:44

I cut a ligament in my left index finger with a hand blender when my now 17 year old DD was a baby. Didn't realise it was more than just a bad cut till I mentioned to the practice nurse about it feeling a bit wobbly and dissociated - she referred me to A&E who X-rayed the finger and referred me straight to hand surgery the next day. I was Shock and even more so at the length of time it took to heal. You can still see the scar if you look closely and although I have full range of movement in that finger now, it does still feel a bit different - slightly stiffer, with less feeling on the skin covering the repair.

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