A volar plate injury occurs when the joint is bent backwards in the wrong direction, leading to the volar plate being partially of fully torn away from the bone. It is a common injury and usually occurs with falls, ball sports and activities of general living. It can be either partially torn, fully torn and in some cases the injury can cause a small fracture of the bone at the base of the joint. The volar plate is also commonly injured with a joint dislocation.
Stiffness and difficulty bending or straightening your finger. In some cases, your finger may look crooked or deformed.
The clinician can normally diagnose this injury by asking about how the finger was injured.
They look at the swelling and tenderness of the joint and will test the stability of the joint.
An x-ray may be done to check if the bone is broken where the volar plate attaches.
The aim of treatment is to get back full and pain free movement of your finger.
These injuries are treated without surgery using exercises and support for your finger by either (strapping or splinting) your finger depending on the type of injury.
Your finger may be strapped to the finger next to it. Sometimes a splint is fitted to the back of the finger instead of strapping. Both treatments are to protect the injury and prevent further stretching while it heals. These treatments are usually only needed for 3 weeks.
You will be able to remove the strapping or splint to wash your hand but it is important to replace it how it was originally fitted after washing.
It is important to move the finger regularly to reduce the swelling and increase your movement. It is important to carefully follow the exercises given to you, according to the type of injury.
You can use simple pain killers and you can reduce the swelling by raising your hand higher than your heart by either resting on some cushions or the back of a chair, whenever you are resting.
These exercises can be started immediately. They should be started in a comfortable range and will slowly improve.
1. Bend the top 2 knuckles into a hook position with the big knuckle straight. Return your fingers to an open position. Repeat this 10 times every 2 hours through the day.
2. Bend your fingers into the palm to make a full fist. Repeat 10 times every 2 hours through the day.
1. Loosen the top Velcro strap but keep the strap around the bottom of the finger. Bend your fingertip of the injured finger, towards the palm to try to make a hook, then straighten the finger back to the splint. Repeat this 10 times every 2 hours.
2. Keep the bottom strap around the finger as the exercise above. Bend the fingers into the palm to make a full fist and then straighten them back to the splint. Repeat 10 times every 2 hours.
You can remove the strapping/support or splint to clean and wash your hand. Always make sure that the skin is fully dry before reapplying the support or splint and make sure it is replaced in the same way as it was originally fitted.
These injuries usually heal well, and your finger should return to good use. Your clinician will give you advice on:
Sometimes….
Your injured finger can take longer than expected to fully heal.
You may have swelling and stiffness, after the strapping/support has stopped, that can be a long-term problem. Your therapist will help you with early movement to prevent this.
The Plastics Trauma Clinic can be contacted between 7.30am and 4.00pm, 7 days a week including Bank Holidays. Telephone: 01274 364397
Hand Therapy can be contacted between 8.00am and 6.00pm Monday to Thursday or between 8.00am and 3.30pm on Friday. Telephone: 01274 382874
You can contact us using the Relay UK app. Textphone users will need to dial 18001 ahead of the number to be contacted.
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is a smoke-free organisation. You are not permitted to smoke or in use e-cigarettes in any of the hospital buildings or grounds.
