Diving after a finger dislocation

[dave archer]

I dislocated the middle finger on my right hand quite badly 5 weeks ago.

Although no bone damage, the ligaments + tendons were damaged, as the finger went 45 degrees sideways at the middle knuckle. I'd like to say it was through something exciting, but the boring truth is I tripped over my own feet in a carpark, stone cold sober. Picture attached for the ghouls

Currently undergoing phyiso, can now bend the knuckle to about 80 degrees (a big improvement!) but the knuckle is still pretty swollen up.

I'm not worried about my ability to physically dive (can do all the necessary stuff like mask clearing etc), but I'm a bit concerned about possible increased chances of DCI due to scar tissue in ligamnets/tendons, and swelling.

Any advice or experience of similar appreciated.

Thanks,
Dave.

Is it supposed to bend like that...?
http://www.yorkshire-divers.co.uk/fo...achmentid=1044

[Conor]

If you have access to a pool, why not go and try the skills with your usual kit? If you can do them comforatbly then I guess you would be ok to dive?

I've heard a lot of people with damaged tissues developing DCI, but probably the best advice I heard was if you may be of risk then dive very conservatively, i.e. shorten dive, lengthen stop dive nitrox as air etc. If you are comfortably enough with you injury then I guess there is no reason not too.

Just to clarify, speaking from hearsay not any relevant experience or training so feel free to ignore

Conor

[Gavin Smith]

Originally Posted by dave archer

http://www.yorkshire-divers.co.uk/fo...achmentid=1044

Oooowwwwwww! Have some green.

[Lou]

EEK! That is disgusting. I did a similar thing playing hockey many years ago and having it "put back" was a toe-curling experience that I have tried to forget. Didn't hurt a bit but i still screamed


The medical advice that I have so far ref my face is that damaged tissue *is* a seeding site for DCI, even down to the level of a large bruise. I am therefore taking no chances until I can get a definitive answer on my own suitability. I would suggest that you do the same if there is still swelling.

As I understand it, damaged tissue has damaged blood vessels and damage to the blood vessels creates imperfections that allow bubbles to seed and then grow.

Hope this helps

Lou

[MATTBIN]

Dave
someone trying to tell you something, dislocated finger and a root canal.
What next?

Matt

[Steve S]

[quote=dave archer] I'm a bit concerned about possible increased chances of DCI due to scar tissue in ligamnets/tendons, and swelling.

Any advice or experience of similar appreciated.

Thanks,
Dave.

Dave,

firstly you need to drink more then you would have an excuse I can only speak from my own experience in that I have artificial ligaments in my knee and much scarring on my leg including a hole that looks like a shark bite

All the above I have been assured by a diving doctor will not put me at any more risk of DCI.

Mine are old injuries though whether or not a new injury would put you at risk I couldn't say but I did dive last year with a broken toe, to use the old chestnut if worried consult a diving doc or try mailing scubadoc who used to post on here.

Safe diving,
Steve

[dave archer]

Lou, Conor, Steve, thanks for the advice. I think a few shallow dives and some extra conservatism as regards deco are in order.

Originally Posted by MATTBIN

someone trying to tell you something, dislocated finger and a root canal. What next?

Yes, I am on full alert for falling pianos and the like

Dave.

PS Steve, what type of shark was it?

[nigelH]

Originally Posted by dave archer

I dislocated the middle finger on my right hand quite badly 5 weeks ago.

That's just a kink. I've seen guys bike racing who would do race two like that once they had worked out how to get their gloves back on.

After five weeks it only hurts. Are you going to let a trivial thing like pain interfere with your diving? It won't stop hurting even if you don't dive. The gloves are the problem. It is not warm off Brighton at the moment and I expect we are better than most. IF you can get your gloves on you have it made.

[Lou]

Here is some info on bone damage and diving from the DAN site. It is also pertinient to your swelling, and mine, I would say.

A:

Three factors can affect your decision to return to diving: the acute loss of function, residual deficits and any additional risk of decompression illness (DCI).

Pain and acute loss of function impedes your ability to dive safely. Acute pain serves an important function since it limits the use of that limb to allow healing and prevent further injury. Thus, your should not dive with an acute fracture. Furthermore, swelling and changes in blood flow could impair the efficient release of nitrogen stored in the injured tissues, possibly increasing the risk of DCI. Symptoms caused by the injury, such as pain and numbness, burning, itching or tingling could add diagnostic confusion if DCI is being investigated. However, after satisfactorily healing and rehabilitation and approval by the orthopedic surgeon, you can resume diving. Once complete healing has occurred, there is little or no evidence to suggest a higher risk of DCI. If a diver experiences persistent pain, numbness or weakness, a dive physician should evaluate the diver’s condition before any resumption of diving. If the diver returns to diving, the orthopedic surgeon must carefully document the diver’s neurological, vascular and functional deficits. In many chronic pain states, no further injury occurs, and many studies report that, with increasing activity, subjects show improvement of overall function and a reduction in chronic pain.

Lou

[D.D.J]

hi
i don t know much about the topic personally, but i do know tht a guy the other month did his open water with us. he had originally planned to do it 6 months beforehand but couldn t as he dislocated his knee. so he choose to wait until he physically felt able and better in his movement, as he was worried about cramp and pain. but he had the all clear and a medical frpom his dr and hes not had a problem with it at all, no pain...etc. but thats not really helpful on the dci question, sorry about that. but thought i d fill you in with wat i know on the subject(as u can see very little)

saw the picture....don t think that its ment to bend like that, good party trick though.