Un-unified bone in fingertip. What now?
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Almost 7 weeks ago, I sustained a crush injury to the fingertip on my right index finger (my predominant hand). I required stitches to my ruptured soft tissue, my nail came off, and I broke the bone in the tuft/tip of my finger.
It's at a point where it's clear the soft tissue is going to heal but it's a little misshapen and I'm still waiting for some skin to peel off. The nail looks like it's growing back, I think. But here is my biggest concern...
My doctor told me that my bone is most likely not going to re-unify. The end of the tuft is seperated from the rest of the distal phalanx. He describes it by saying I basically amputated the end of my fingertip bone but the soft tissue is still in tact.
My doctor says just to use it in order to answer the question "will I be able to use it like normal?" which I understand because it's something that will be gauged through experience. But, as of right now it can't be used like normal. If I scratch my sideburns or scroll down on my touchscreen, I feel the tip of my finger being pushed back. It's like there is no supporting structure there because... there's not... it's just flesh sticking off the end of my finger.
Surgically amputating the soft tissue is something neither of us wants to do. So, how can it best get back to normal strength?
Can my finger strengthen the muscles and ligaments sufficiently to give the tip enough strength to do normal pressing or rubbing without being pushed back?
If (emphasis on "if"
my nail grows back, will that act like a reinforcing wall and makeup for the missing skeletal support?
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