Summary

A 62-year-old, right-hand-dominant man who had dementia and lived in an Elderly Mentally Infirm (EMI) nursing home was admitted through Accident & Emergency (A&E) department following unwitnessed injury to the left little finger.

His examination revealed a swollen and deformed left little finger with a laceration along the middle crease on the volar aspect and head of proximal phalanx visible through this. Distally sensations and capillary refill was normal. X-rays showed a double dislocation of both proximal and distal interphalangeal joints. The finger was reduced under ring block and the laceration was washed with saline in A&E. The patient was taken to the operation theatre next morning for wound exploration and wash-out±stabilistion of the finger under general anaesthesia.

The wound was thoroughly washed out and closed with 4/0 interrupted nylon. The finger was immobilised with neighbour strapping and bandaged in flexion.