ER set finger with a Velcro splint.Said to call hand doctor who said would be 14 days before repair finger.?

Question

The ER doctors said the hand doctor would probably repair the finger with a steel pin. Called hand doctor for an appointment. Earliest he can see me is two weeks. Is it okay to let a broken finger, that probably will need a steel pin, go for 14 days?

Answer 1

Trying to get an appointment with an orthopaedic specialist is a nightmare. in my office, 1 month is the normal wait time for a non fracture and about 2 weeks for fractures. It can be worse with an HMO. There is only one thing to do. Ask your primary care doctor to contact the specialist. If your pcp feels that is too long to wait, he/she can contact the specialist directly and get you a sooner appointment (MAYBE.) It is a professional courtesy so your doc is going out on a limb for you. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Someone I know cut their hand on a glass when doing dishes. The glass just snapped. As a result, she is still in a velcro finger splint (accident was Jan 7) but had surgery 9 days later. She didn't want to wait that long but she didn't have a choice b/c she cut the tendon. I would see if there are other qualified doctors in the area with a sooner availability but in the mean time take the appintment.

Answer 3

You might have a simple problem (like a Mallet finger in which the extensor tendon is detached from the bone at the tip of the finger.) These are at times fixed the way the ER doc indicated. Still I am not a fan of waiting for two weeks to know what the problem might be. Some problems are better addressed earlier. I would find another surgeon who can see you sooner. Bring any xrays they did in the ER with you to your appointment.

Answer 4

If you are having surgery, that's about par for the course. And we have the high test paid doctors in the world! What's that all about? Good luck.