torn pinky pulley

A few days ago, I tore my a2 pulley in my pinky finger. I believe it is only partially torn because I don't notice a bow stringing effect. I am not sure whether I heard it or felt it, but it felt like a high pitched snapping/popping sensation followed by a weird tingly numb feeling. Either way, I would like to continue climbing as soon as possible.

It seems plausible (once I can do every day activities without irritating it) to somehow splint it off and climb on my other three fingers. Has anyone had any experience with this? Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks!

some background info - mostly interested in sport climbing. I don't do much trad or bouldering. I was climbing around 12+/13-ish at the time of injury.

I suffered this same injury several years ago. I think its pretty rare to blow a pulley in the pinky. I've never heard of it happening to anyone else until now.

Good news: I had considerable success climbing with my pinky taped to a tongue depressor.

I was able to splint my finger and very carefully enjoy pocketed 5.10 climbing in Mexico only a couple weeks after the injury. Like all pulley injuries, it still took a long time to heal. I had to take it easy for probably eight months before I trusted it for steep bouldering or tweaky moves.

Start slow and climb on toprope. Don't forget that the top priority is not retweaking your finger.

Awesome news! I have never heard of anyone else having a pinky injury either. It was just a weird position and handhold where I was able to get surprisingly good purchase off of my pinky, better than my other fingers.

Did you tape the tongue depressor exclusively to your finger? Or did you have it running down the side of your hand, taping it off around your hand as well (to prevent any pinky movement)?

Funny, I blew out my pinky too. I climbed like I was holding a tea cup at a fancy tea party for 6 months. No splint because the stiff finger would get in the way but I did wrap it in some tape so it wouldn't contract all the way.

I think I taped the tongue depressor to the front (and maybe also the back) of my pinky. The fancy tea party method probably works, but I don't trust myself not to get gripped and instinctively bear down with that finger. The splint certainly got in the way, but it beat not climbing. I imagine it'd work fine for enduro gym sessions on jugs.

I popped a pinky A4, fairly sure it was a partial rupture. One thing to consider if you decide to climb with three fingers is that the ring finger becomes more vulnerable, especially to rotational force, and you are at risk for popping the ring finger too. At least I did that when I resumed climbing and would not wish that outcome on anyone. Good news is that my pinky is basically better after 4 weeks of controlled loading. In retrospect, I would have just taken the 4-5 weeks to rehab the pinky and not tried any climbing with three fingers.

So I have not hurt my pinky, but done my pullies in 3 different times I have found that by always putting my hurt finger over one of the other dings I have been able to climb without splinting the finger (I have tried both just tape or a wooden splint), the other finger prevent you from being able to load it to hard. 

But by top roping so I wouldn't try to grip holds I should not, being okay coming down because a key hold just isn't going to work and taking it down a few notches I have been able to start climbing in two weeks, long time till I'm back to climbing hard though. 

Good luck and quick healing to you