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I Dislocate a Finger

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko; MBA, CMP™

[Publisher-in-Chief]

Dateline: Sunday June 28, 2009

Fresh off my “runner’s” high from meeting Olympians Shani Davis and Apolo Ohno, the other day, I easily ran an extra couple of miles during my daily training run to stay in shape during my arduous speaking and book signing tour. Thus, invigorated in mind and body, and flushed with surging natural endomorphins, I decided to spend the afternoon at Marquette Mountain watching the downhill mountain bike races.

After introducing myself to Bruce Gustafson, the ambulance driver there on professional standby from the local Marquette General Hospital EMT service, I spent an hour or so marveling at how the racers survived the rocky and treacherous down-hill course. Unfortunately, I was not so lucky, and came very close to requiring Bruce’s expert services.

Taking a Tumble

While climbing down the mounting, running actually, I tripped head-over-heels and commenced wildly flailing and rolling down the rocky terrain, stopping just short of smashing into a large birch tree after 50 feet or so. Bouncing straight back up in an instant, I doubt if nearby spectators even noticed what had happened.  Nevertheless, I was most pleased at my adroit body and still youthful ability to assume a dolphin like roll into the fall, dissipating kinetic energy and avoiding injury. Or, so I thought.

Dislocating a Finger

Unfortunately, my fourth right finger began to throb a few seconds later; and then scream at me. Not much medical acumen was needed to note that something was wrong, as the proximal-inter-phalangeal-joint [PIPJ] appeared laterally deviated forty-five degrees, just as the digital apex was turning blue and the joint began swelling before my eyes. Appreciating the impending neurovascular compromise potential, I grabbed the finger, distracted it, reversed the mechanism of injury, let go, and felt it snap back into place.  I promptly sat down as a diaphoretic wave of cold sweat broke out on my forehead, chest, shoulders and arms. Fortunately, the hypo-tensive episode lasted only a few minutes, and I did not go into shock. A visiting nurse came to the rescue, elevating my feet, monitoring vital signs and offering fluids as I recovered quickly. She was indeed my Florence Nightingale and, as I later learned, a Master’s prepared nurse-executive. I was gratefully taken back to my hotel after refusing further medical assistance or X-rays. The finger was grotesquely swollen the next few days but did not hurt much. Simple contrast baths, passive and active ROM exercises, along with the “tincture of time” which I estimate to be 6-8 weeks based on clinical experience, will hopefully be all that is required for complete recovery. Although, it may be some time before full typing flexibility is returned; assuming a “button-hole” extensor tendon rupture incarcerating, strangling or imbricating the phalangeal head, did not occur.

Assessment

In my former clinical medical career, I diagnosed, treated and operated on hundreds of injured fingers and toes; for various acute and chronic conditions, fractures, dislocations and related digital anomalies. I even published several peer reviewed papers on same. Still, my course of action may be considered reckless, by some, and should not be repeated. Always seek medical advice.

References:

1. Digital Fractures and Dislocations [Diagnosis and Treatment]. Author: DH Elleby, and DE Marcinko [Clinics in Podiatry. 05/1985; 2(2):233-45].

2. Marcinko DE, and Elleby DH. Digital Fractures and Dislocations; In: Scurran BL, ed. Foot and Ankle Trauma, 2nd ed; Church-Hill-Livingston, Boston, MA.

About Off Road with Dr. Marcinko

These sporadic off-road segments will continue through-out my 2009 summer promotional tour. On the one hand, formal attendance at several engagements was a bit sparse because of the death of several recent celebrities and entertainer types. On the other hand, local book stores and sponsors noted a spike in our CD and book sales, as well as interest in our online www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.com program as well as our quarterly institutional premium guide; Healthcare Organizations [Journal of Financial Management Strategies] www.HealthcareFinancials.com

Part I: https://healthcarefinancials.wordpress.com/2009/07/20/off-road-touring-with-dr-marcinko-part-i/

Part II: https://healthcarefinancials.wordpress.com/2009/07/22/off-road-touring-with-dr-marcinko-part-ii/

Conclusion

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Speaker: If you need a moderator or speaker for an upcoming event, Dr. David E. Marcinko; MBA – Publisher-in-Chief of the Medical Executive-Post – is available for seminar or speaking engagements. Contact: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com

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Filed under: Book Reviews, iMBA, Inc., Marketing & Advertising, Media Mentions and PR, Op-Editorials, Sponsors, Touring with Marcinko | Tagged: ambulance, Apolo Ohno, barry scurran, Bruce Gustafson, churchill-livingston, david marcinko, DH Elleby, douglas elleby, Elleby, EMT, finger dislocation, finger fracture, Florence Nightingale, marquette general hospital, Marquette Mountain, nurse, PIPJ, podiatry, ROM, Shani Davis, shock, X-ray |