Pfunny pfingers: Phalanx fractures (dislocations, etc.)

Case presentation

A 12-year-old male presents with a left fifth phalanx injury (his “pinky” finger). He was jumping on a trampoline and somehow injured the digit; he believes he landed on the digit. Since then, he has had pain and swelling.

His examination reveals a patient complaining of digit pain. There is swelling and tenderness of the left fifth digit at the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint with limited range of motion secondary to the pain. He is grossly neurovascularly intact and there is no apparent wrist, forearm, elbow, upper arm, or shoulder injury. He does state he has “hand pain” as well, proximal to his swollen finger.

Imaging considerations