Going home after your visit
Boxer's fracture — advice for adults
How to care for a break in the bone behind your little-finger knuckle.
You have broken the neck of the bone behind your little-finger knuckle — often called a "boxer's fracture". Most heal well within about 3–6 weeks without an operation.
Your care details
To be completed by the team before you leave.
this Emergency Department your nearest A&E other:
none needed
Come back to A&E, or call 111, if any of these happen
These can mean the bone, nerves, blood supply or a wound need urgent checking.
- Fingers that are numb, pale, cold, or stay tingly
- You cannot move your fingers at all
- Your fingers cross over or twist when you make a fist
- A cut or graze over the knuckle, or you punched a mouth or teeth
- Spreading redness, heat, pus, or a high temperature
- Pain that keeps getting worse, not better
CALL 999 Call 999 if the hand becomes cold and white, or someone is badly hurt. Trust your gut — if something feels badly wrong, get it checked.
Caring for it
- Strap your little and ring fingers together, or wear the support you were given.
- Keep your hand raised when you can, to bring down swelling.
- Keep your fingers moving through the day to stop them getting stiff.
- Take off any rings now, before your hand swells.
- Use paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain, if you can take them.
What is normal in the first few weeks
These usually settle as the bone heals over about 3–6 weeks:
BruisingSwellingA flatter knuckleAching when you gripMild stiffness
The knuckle may always look a little flatter — this rarely causes problems.
Follow-up and review
The virtual fracture clinic will review your x-ray and contact you about next steps — there is usually no need to ring them first. Hand therapy may be offered to help you get your full movement and grip back. Keep using your hand gently in the meantime.
Where to get help
999
Life-threatening emergency, or a red-flag symptom above
111
Urgent but not life-threatening, or you're not sure — call or visit 111.nhs.uk, 24/7
Your team
Use the department phone in Your care details above