MALLET FINGER

Overview and Facts

Mallet finger is a deformity wherein the end of your finger bends inwards towards your palm. Because the tendon linking the muscle to the finger bone is strained or ripped, you won’t be able to straighten the end of your finger. Your finger will also be inflamed and sore. In some circumstances, the tendon may not tear, but a small piece of your finger bone may break off where the tendon connects.

You can suffer from a mallet finger when you try to catch a hardball and hit your extended fingertip. The injury usually affects a finger on your dominant hand. It can also happen if your finger forcefully hits a hard object, such as walls or doors.

Types and Symptoms

TYPES

Type I. It is a closed injury with or without a minor dorsal avulsion fracture.

Type II. It is an open injury or laceration.

Type III. It is classified as an open injury with deep tissue abrasion.

Type IV. mallet fractures:

A – Displaced phalanx physeal injury

B – Fracture fragment involving 20% to 50% of the facies articularis

C – Fracture fragment greater than 50% of the facies articularis

SYMPTOMS

The following are the most common mallet finger symptoms:

  • Bruising and redness
  • Tenderness and swelling
  • Detached or torn fingernail
  • Visible trauma under the fingernail bed
  • An inability to flex or straighten your fingertip

Diagnosis & Medications

DIAGNOSIS

To diagnose a mallet finger, your doctor may do a physical exam and ask you about your symptoms. If your doctor notices that you can’t straighten your finger, they may schedule an  X-ray appointment. Additional imaging studies may need such as:

  • Ultrasound
  • MRI or CT Scan

TREATMENT

In treating a mallet’s finger injury, your finger will be placed in a plastic splint that keeps it straight while slightly bending the end joint backward. At the middle joint, you’ll still be able to bend your finger. The splint is taped on and must be worn until all symptoms are not visible to allow the damaged tendon to recover fully. It should only be taken out for cleaning purposes. 

The end of your finger mustn’t bend while it is still splinted since this will slow the healing process and limit the treatment’s effectiveness. Surgery is only required if you have a broken finger, a broken skin, or in rare cases of a mallet finger that does not heal.

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