This article reviews the literature on fingertip injuries, physiology, pain management, assessment and the relationship between pain and sleep. A small audit was undertaken in an Accident and Emergency Department in a general hospital and minor injuries unit. Patients perceptions of pain were captured using patient dairies for 14 days along with sleep patterns, analgesia use and quality of life. The Standard Dressing (SD) (n=19) and the Polymeric Membrane dressing finger dressing (PM) (n=20) had similar finger injuries. Pain in the PM group decreased after 8 days. SD was bulky and fell off within a day; the PM dressing lasted between 26 days. Patient outcomes on the PM included being comfortable, with the dressing easily removed and reduced the pain for the patient.
