Broken Little Finger

[Paul S]

Back on February 15th, I had just returned home from visiting Tim Olt at BGSU when I reached forward with my right hand to block a fast swinging door and misjudged allowing the door to strike dead on center the very tip of my little finger at full force. Besides being jammed straight back into itself and hurting like nothing I have ever felt before, I ended up with several fractures in the finger. A cast was not really practical for it so it was taped to the finger next to it for support. I can now move it in a fairly complete range of motion without pain but pressing down the fourth valve is a journey in pain.

I have been trying to make do by sliding my third finger over to play the fourth valve when I can and just bucking up and taking the pain when I have to go for low F where I can not stretch both my thumb trigger and reach the fouth valve with the third finger. It still hurts like a son of a gun every time I play though and does not seem to be improving.

Has anyone else ran into this situation to have any thoughts or recommendations? It seems that any kind of support splint that is effective also limits my use of the third finger as well. I have quite a few performances coming up with several groups and I just can not quit using it totally long enough to see if the pain will just go away on its own.

Thanks for any shared experience, thoughts, etc...

[chevy68chv]

You might try taping just the first knuckle below the fingertip. This might reduce the pressure a little, but there will still be some discomfort. This is what we used to do in football when I was in high school, maybe it will work for this?

[Joe Baker]

I injured my pinky in HS, and came up with a simple short-term fix (I'm assuming the rotary in your avatar is the horn you're playing). I took some sturdy string, tied it around the valve paddle, passed it through the tubing, and tied a ring on the end. I was able to hold the tuba by the large branch running along the bell stack, and keep my finger in the ring. When I needed 4th, a little tug on the ring did the trick.

Before I came up with the string/ring idea, I had been pushing the rotor stop arm from the other side with my left hand, which worked so-so for me on a Miraphone 186, but required such a reach I couldn't play comfortably.

The only other thing I'd suggest is finding a way to shift the force onto whatever part of your pinky has the least pain -- sounds like that might be the segment closest to the palm. Maybe a well-padded splint? Or one of those bendable metal finger braces, where the padding would evenly distribute the force.

Best of luck!
___________________________
Joe Baker, who also got his middle finger stuck in a bus door mechanism 1/2 hour before taking the stage at HS contest, and wasn't able to even stop the bleeding until after the contest.

[Paul S]

Several fractures in the tip of your little finger? Sounds more like it was crushed.

Contact a hand surgeon and/or a neurologist. Sounds like there is more to your injury than the attending doctor expected.

A specialist will, at least, get you the facts. Possibly a longer healing period or you may have other issues that need to be addressed.

Hi Dave,

The injury was an end-on blow and according to the emergency room doctor, I have some hairline fractures along the proximal interphalangeal (the middle knuckle). He was most concerned about return of range of motion at that point as he did not see major damage to warrant surgery or cast. There was no swelling as I had iced it down immediately.

I have several family members who are nurses who helped me with making sure I did not allow the finger to form any limiting scar tissue. This was also the reason that a cast was not considered. The doctor knew I played piano and tuba. I do have pain free rotation and range of motion equal to my left hand again. The remaining problem is the use of the fourth valve piston on my big cc especially during rapid runs that add combinations of 4 with 2 and thumb trigger & 4 which hurt far worse than 4 alone. I do intend to follow up with my doctor with the concerns you mention.

I appreciate these other suggestions as well and will check them out. Thank you!

[Tabor]

Is it possible for you to reach around and play the 4th valve on your horn(s) with your left hand? I've been known on certain horns to play often using my left hand and use my right to turn a page, pick up something that fell (etc). It doesn't work with every horn.

[Arkietuba]

I had the same problem (only I was playing trombone so the tuba hadn't entered my life yet) about 6 years ago. I was playing dodgeball in 6th grade P.E. and a ball bounced off the concrete and hit my little finger dead-on. I thought that I had just jammed it really bad and I didn't do anything. Now my finger looks kinda weird but I have full range of motion and it doesn't hurt. It doesn't seem to affect my playing since I made 1st chair All-State my 12th grade year last year and I'm 3rd chair at UCA.