Broken pinky fingers take on average of 3 weeks to 6 weeks to heal.
As long as you take proper care of the broken pinky finger and wear the splint or cast as you should it should heal and the broken pinky finger should be fully healed and better within 3 weeks to 6 weeks.
The last time I had a broken pinky finger it healed within 6 weeks fully.
To wrap a broken pinky finger you should buddy tape the broken pinky finger to the adjacent finger and use the tape to bind them together, but leave the joints free for movement and ensure that the tape is not too tight.
Ensure that your fingers are clean and dry before applying the tape to the broken pinky finger.
You can also place a small amount of soft material such as gauze or cotton between the fingers for comfort and to make the skin less prone to irritation.
To buddy tape the broken pinky finger, cut the tape or tear the tape long enough so that the tape encircles both the injured and adjacent finger.
Then place one strip of tape between the first and second joints of both fingers and ensure that it's wide enough for stability, but also narrow enough to not cover the joints.
Then apply a second strip of tape between the second and third joints, and again while leaving the joints free.
Wrap the tape so that it's firmly fitting but not so tight that it causes numbness, discoloration and swelling and regularly check your fingers to ensure good circulation and sensation and pay attention for any signs of skin irritation and breakdown of skin.
A doctor can treat a broken pinky finger with the use of splints and in severe cases surgery which realigns the bones and stabilizes them.
When you see a doctor for a broken pinky finger the doctor will examine your finger to assess the extent of the injury and any associated soft tissue damage and an X ray will be done to confirm the fracture and assess it's severity and location.
For less severe pinky finger fractures the doctor will use a splint or buddy taping which is taping the injured finger to the one next to it, which immobilizes the finger and promotes healing.
If the fractured or broken pinky finger is displaced or unstable, or if the bone fragments are not aligning properly then surgery may be required to realign the bones and to stabilize them with pins, plates and screws.
Your pinky finger can be broken and still bend and the same is true for other fingers that are broken although it can be painful to bend the broken pinky finger or other broken finger.
You can sometimes still move your finger including your pinky finger even if it's broken although it will often be painful to move the broken finger.
Also if the finger is more severely broken, then you may not be able to move the finger.
Moving a broken finger can be hurt and be very painful and swelling can also sometimes stabilize the fracture site of the broken finger and lessen pain during movement, so don't be fooled by being able to move the finger as it can still be broken.
Whether or not your finger is broken or just sprained depends on the symptoms.
With a broken finger you cannot usually move the finger on it's own but if it's just sprained then you can often move the finger on it's own but it can be painful to do so.
With a broken finger the broken finger may also look bent or crooked at an unusual angle and swelling and bruising with a broken finger are also common, however if the bruising and swelling is immediate or significant it may indicate a break or severe finger injury.
A sprained pinky finger or other sprained finger will feel like a mild to severe pain in the finger or pinky finger and may also cause swelling, stiffness as well as potential bruising and the sprained finger or pinky finger may be painful to move.
Depending on the severity of the finger or pinky finger sprain you will likely experience some pain which can range from mild to severe and the area around the joint of the sprained pinky finger may also swell up and make your finger or pinky finger appear larger and potentially even be tender to the touch.
Stiffness in the finger or the pinky finger or having a hard time straightening the pinky finger or bending the finger or pinky finger can also be a sign of a sprained finger including a pinky finger.
You can sometimes tell if a finger is jarred or broken by the symptoms although it can in some cases be hard to tell if the finger is jarred or broken without seeing a doctor.
When your finger is broken there will often be severe and localized pain and the pain may be intense and persistent and even when the finger is at rest.
With a broken finger your finger may also look bent or crooked at an unusual angle and swelling and bruising with a broken finger are also common, however if the bruising and swelling is immediate or significant it may indicate a break or severe finger injury.
Hearing an audible snap or grinding sound at the time of injury to the finger is also a good indicator that the finger is broken.
Numbness and tinging and tender to the touch are also common in broken fingers.
The signs of a jarred finger or sprained finger include pain that is less severe than a broken finger and the pain is often sharp and localized but should subside with ice and rest.
Swelling and some bruising are also common with a jarred or sprained finger although the swelling and bruising is often less severe than with a broken finger.
And you should still be able to move the finger when it's just sprained or jarred but it may be painful.
If you suspect you have a broken finger you should seek medical attention right away and go to the emergency room.
When a finger injury is serious there will often be severe pain, noticeable deformity as well as significant swelling and an inability to move your injured finger.
Hearing a popping or cracking sound at the time of injury to the finger is also another sign that your finger injury is serious.
If you injure your finger and you have intense pain which does not go away with rest or over the counter pain medications, then it could be a sign that the finger injury is serious or you have a fractured finger.
If your finger is bent at an unusual angle, appears to be dislocated or has any visible misshapen appearance you should seek immediate medical attention and go to the ER.
If your finger shows any rapid or excessive swelling, especially if it's accompanied by any bruising it could indicate that you have a fractured finger or other soft tissue damage that can be serious.
Or if you cannot move the finger or if the movement of the finger is very limited or painful then it can also be a sign of fracture, tendon damage and dislocation.
If you hear a popping or cracking sound at the time of the injury to the finger it can also indicate that you have a dislocation or fracture of the finger.
Any numbness or tingling in the injured finger or hand can also indicate that you have nerve damage and requires immediate medical attention.
Or if you have any bleeding that is not controllable or does not stop after you apply pressure or if you see bone through the skin or if the bone is protruding you need to seek medical attention.
And if your finger is pale or bluish in color it can also indicate that you have poor circulation that requires medical attention.
Signs of infection of an injured finger are increased pain, redness, warmth or pus and if you notice any signs of infection of the injured finger you should seek medical attention.