It is generally best to have a broken finger evaluated and treated within the first week after the injury. Ideally, fractures should be treated within 5-7 days to achieve the best outcome. After this period, the bones may start to heal in their current position, which might not be optimal and could require surgery to correct. However, even if treatment is delayed by weeks or months, some corrective measures like surgery may still be possible, though the success depends on the extent of healing and any complications such as deformity or nonunion. Untreated broken fingers can lead to poor healing, deformity, chronic pain, decreased function, and arthritis in the finger joint. Immediate medical care is advised to ensure proper alignment and healing and to reduce complications.
Key Points:
- See a healthcare provider ideally within a week of injury.
- Treatment delay beyond a week may impact recovery and sometimes require surgery.
- Untreated fractures risk improper healing, pain, deformity, and functional loss.
- Surgery can sometimes correct malunion or nonunion even months later but earlier treatment is preferable.
Thus, it is not usually "too late" immediately, but the sooner a broken finger is treated, the better the chances of healing well with minimal complications.
