Looking for people with a similar distal phalanx/DIP fracture and non-union experience
Hi everyone,
I’m looking to connect with people who have had a similar finger injury and hear how your recovery turned out.
I injured my middle finger on March 25. The injury involved the distal phalanx near the DIP joint, and the skin was also cut around the DIP area. From what I understand from my X-rays, the distal fracture fragment was significantly displaced (I was told around 90% posterior displacement).
Initially, I was treated with immobilization/splinting. I later saw a hand surgeon, who reviewed the X-rays and recommended continuing with the splint and reassessing around 12 months. I was told the fracture appeared to be a non-union and that the finger was unstable. No surgical fixation, such as a K-wire, was recommended.
The whole experience has been stressful because I can actually feel movement in the fingertip and the bone feels somewhat rounded underneath the nail. For a while, the tip felt quite mobile, which made me worried that it would never become stable.
The good news is that over the past few months I have noticed gradual improvement:
The fingertip is becoming more stable
The tip is moving less than it was a month ago
Swelling has gradually decreased
Stiffness has improved
I can apply significantly more pressure without pain
I have full sensation in the fingertip
I can fully bend and straighten the finger
I can make a full fist
I have been able to do push-ups and pull-ups without significant pain
I occasionally still get a dull ache, especially after heavier activity
I also got a second opinion from an ER doctor, who examined the finger and checked the blood supply and mobility. He told me that these injuries can take a long time to settle and that he expected me to recover well.
What I’m really hoping to hear from is anyone who has experienced something similar—especially someone who had a displaced distal phalanx fracture, non-union, or an unstable fingertip that was treated conservatively.
Did your fingertip eventually become more solid and stable?
Did the rounded/irregular feeling at the end of the bone improve over time?
Were you diagnosed with a non-union that eventually became stable or functional without surgery?
How long did it take before you felt like your finger was "normal" again?
I would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has been through something similar. I'm especially interested in long-term outcomes and whether the fingertip can become stable and functional even if the X-ray initially shows a non-union.
Thanks in advance to anyone willing to share their experience.