Fractures
A fracture is a broken or cracked bone. You can partially fracture a bone or it can completely break. Most fractures happen to children or elderly people because most young and middle-aged adults have stronger bones.
Dislocation
Dislocation of a joint means that the two surfaces are no longer in contact with each other. This can happen at any joint in the finger or thumb. The most common joint to be dislocated is the middle joint in the finger the proximal interphalangeal joint (PIPJ). The direction of dislocation will depend on the forces applied at the time of the injury. Some dislocations will be associated with a fracture (break) in the bones involved, this may make the treatment more difficult and the outcome more uncertain. The dislocation may damage the ligaments that support the sides and front of the joint with the risk of long term instability.