This post is part 1 in a SERIES of 2.

Part 1 is meant to be a brief introduction and will cover relevant finger anatomy.

Whereas Part 2, will highlight 5 common BJJ finger injuries and the evidence-based treatment for each.

Enjoy….

Introduction:

Improper diagnosis and treatment of finger injuries can lead to deformity and dysfunction over time.

Having a basic understanding of finger anatomy and common tendon and ligament injury mechanisms can help to properly diagnose and treat finger injuries.

Treatment, in general, should restrict motion of injured structures, while allowing uninjured joints to remain mobile.

In order to do so, knowing which structures are injured is very important.

A basic understanding of the complex finger anatomy will aid this process…..

Basic Anatomy of the Finger

Anatomy of the finger is complex, but a basic knowledge is necessary to properly treat acute injuries.

Bones and Joints:

The index, middle, ring, and pinky digits have proximal, middle, and distal phalanges (finger bones) and three hinged joints:

Distal interphalangeal (DIP).

Proximal interphalangeal (PIP).

Metacarpophalangeal (MCP).

The joints sit in volar plates (collateral ligaments attached to dense fibrous connective tissue), which provide joint stability.

Tendons and Ligaments:

The dorsal extensor tendon divides into a central slip that extends the PIP joint and then into two lateral bands that extend the DIP joint.

The volar tendons include:

Flexor digitorum superficialis

Flexor digitorum profundus.

The flexor digitorum superficialis tendon attaches to the base of the middle phalanx and flexes the PIP joint.

The flexor digitorum profundus tendon is located under and splits the flexor digitorum superficialis tendon.

It attaches to the base of the distal phalanx and flexes the DIP.

Sound Complex? Just keep referring to the image above to see which tendon goes where. However, this won’t matter as much for the next part in the series.

In the coming posts, the common injuries seen, the affected structures, and how to best treat them will be covered.

Common Finger Injuries

1. Mallet Finger

2. Jersey Finger

3. Boutonniere Deformity

4. Collateral Ligament Injury

5. Volar Plate Tear

I will hep you recognize which injury you sustained, and then the best treatment guidelines to follow.

Have Common BJJ Finger Injuries that Won’t Heal?

Seek out a professional assessment to get tailored advice for your specific problem. Common BJJ Finger Injuries can be difficult to manage and linger for months. Get to the root of your problem before it drags out and gets worse.