how do you know

[devil monkey]

how do you know if your finger is broken. what does it look like.

[Athley]

It may not look any different. Only an X-ray will tell you for sure. If it's really painful and you suspect it is broken you may need to visit A&E.

Phone NHS direct first for their advice.

[devilwoman]

it will hurt like mad, plus it will be either bruised or swollen or both, you will definatly know if its broken.

[Athley]

http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/

Here's the link you will need you can e mail a query if you prefer.

Good luck hope its not broken.

[Jugglering]

And to complement Athley's answer, NHS Direct's phone number is 0845 4647 in England and Wales, 08454 242424 in Scotland

[wild-bill]

it will look like this

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/images/4453/445 3-4463-8939-25004.jpg

[jump79]

It looks crooked and sticks out from all the other fingers on your hand. To check, try to bend and get your 'crooked' finger to touch the palm of your hand. If it hurts, its broken

[RATTER15]

If you have broken a metacarpal your finger will still look fine as the metacarpal is the finger bone inside your hand, metacarpal breaks are usually caused by punching something and your hand will swell and be painful.

[MORELLO]

Metacarpal relates to your wrist joint.

[MORELLO]

...or should I say, the long bones. Finger bones are phalanges.

[RATTER15]

Sorry MORELLO, I was trying to be helpful!!

So the the metacarpal is the long bones inside your hand that directly connect to your finger (if you look at a skeleton, you would say it was a finger) I know what and where it is because I broke mine!! and certainly not the wrist!!!

[RATTER15]

I broke my metacarpal by pummelling some pedantic little toerag that thought he would look clever by correcting me!!!!

[MORELLO]

Metacarpal as in matatarsal - carpel is to wrist as tarsus is to ankle... long bone originating from said areas. Smaller bones ie. fingers and toes are made up of phalanges. If you broke a metacarpel it would relate to a long bone in the hand, not a finger.

[MORELLO]

http:/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metacarpal

[devil monkey]

thanks all of you

[RATTER15]

OK MORELLO its a wrist, happy now, when my Dr said id broken my finger he obviously meant to say my wrist!!

Just the same as if i have a broken femur its actually a broken hip not a broken leg.

Pedantic bloody fool!!!

Like I said, I broke mine, I know where it is!!

[MORELLO]

I didn't say it was a wrist... pr*@k. The long bone - metacarpal - in your hand is not your finger, like a metatarsal isn't your toe. I happen to deal with these things for a living so I'm not pedantic, just right.

[tfb]

does it bend wer it shouldnt?
if it does then its broken oh yeh and it will hurt like hell