Dislocations of fingers and toes are common, but very painful. It's often relatively easy for a rescuer to put these digits back into place ("reduce"), bringing quick relief to the injured person.
Instructions
Preparation
1. Calm the injured person down, making the person as comfortable and relaxed as possible.
2. Determine quickly whether or not reducing the dislocation (putting the bones back in line) is necessary (see "Decide Whether or Not to Reduce a Dislocation").
3. If reduction of the dislocation is necessary, calmly walk the injured person through each step, securing the person's agreement and cooperation.
Reduction and Splinting
4. Position yourself so that you are facing the injured person.
5. Hold the finger or toe firmly with both hands, keeping it in a slightly bent (flexed) position. Do this by placing one hand below the base of the dislocated joint and the other at the end of the tip of the finger or toe.
6. Pull gently on the tip of the finger or toe along the line in which the bones normally lie, as if trying to lengthen it in a straight line, while simultaneously pushing the joint back into place with your other hand.
7. Splint the finger or toe by taping it to the neighboring digit, cushioning the splint with a gauze pad between the two fingers or toes. Do not put tape directly on the joint.
Tags: injured person, back into, back into place, fingers toes, into place