Version July 2025
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What are discharge instructions? —
Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of yourself after getting medical care in the emergency department ("ED").
What should I know? —
You came to the ED for a finger injury. You might have injured a bone, ligament, muscle, tendon, or nail.
Treatment depends on the type of finger injury you have and how severe it is. The doctor might have put a brace, splint, wrap, or cast on your finger. Or they might have "buddy taped" your injured finger to the finger next to it. This keeps your finger in the correct position so it can heal.
How long it will take to heal depends on the type of injury. Most take weeks to months to heal.
How do I care for myself at home? —
Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure you understand exactly what you need to do to care for yourself. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.
You should also do the following:
●Call your regular doctor and tell them you were in the ED. Make a follow-up appointment as instructed. You might need to see a specialist called an "orthopedic surgeon."
●If the doctor put a brace, splint, wrap, or cast on your finger, wear it as instructed. Or they might have told you to "buddy tape" your finger. This means taping the injured finger to the finger next to it. You can tape the ring and little (pinky) fingers together, or the index (pointer) and middle fingers together. It is better not to tape the middle and ring fingers together.
●Take all your medicines as instructed:
•Take non-prescription medicines to relieve pain, such as acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol), ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (sample brand name: Aleve).
•If you got a prescription for stronger pain medicines to take for a short time, follow the instructions carefully.
●Prop your hand on pillows, keeping it above the level of your heart. This might help lessen pain and swelling.
●Ice can help with pain and swelling. Put a cold gel pack, bag of ice, or bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel over your finger. Never put ice right on the skin. Do not leave the ice on more than 10 to 15 minutes at a time. Use for the first 24 to 48 hours after an injury.
●Quit smoking, if you smoke. Your doctor or nurse can help. Injuries take longer to heal if you smoke.
●Follow all the doctor's instructions about what activities are safe to do. You might have to limit activity or movement until your finger is healed. Increase your activity slowly.
When should I call the doctor? —
Call for advice if:
●You still have bad pain even after taking pain medicines.
●The pain or swelling gets worse.
●Your fingers are numb, tingly, blue, or gray.
●The cast, splint, or brace gets damaged.
●The cast or splint gets wet, and it's not supposed to get wet.
●You bent or straightened your finger, and you weren't supposed to.
●You have new or worsening symptoms.
Patient education: Common finger injuries (The Basics)
Patient education: Finger dislocation (The Basics)
Patient education: Finger fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: How to care for your cast (The Basics)
Patient education: How to care for your child's cast (The Basics)
Patient education: How to care for a splint (The Basics)
