The tendon in the tip of your finger allows your fingertip to bend and straighten. Keywords mallet finger mallet fracture bony mallet. This injury, which typically results from trauma, such as when the fingertip is hit by a ball, causes the tip of your finger to droop. Review of acute traumatic closed mallet finger injuries in adults.
Doctor answers on symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and more. The injury involves a rupture of the extensor tendon attachment to the bone, either with or without a small bone fragment. There are finger exercises that a hand therapist can teach you to strengthen your fingers, but you should be evaluated by a hand surgeon to make sue there are no correctable injuries. It is formed by the connection of the metacarpal bone in the palm of the hand with the first finger bone, or proximal phalanx. Surgical treatment of mallet fractures by extension block. It can involve either a bony avulsion injury of the distal phalanx or a rupture of the extensor tendon with no bony involvement figure 1. When the tendon is damaged, cut, or avulsed ripped from bone the tip of the finger will drop down without the ability to straighten. If the finger is cut, clean the cut under running water for a few minutes. The aim of treatment is to achieve tendon healing without elongation, and. The diagnosis is generally based on symptoms and supported by xrays treatment is generally with a splint that holds the finger straight continuously for 8 weeks. Then gently try to straighten out the injured finger with help from your other hand. Splinting of acute mallet finger injury is widely practiced. Mallet finger refers to injuries of the extensor mechanism of the finger at the level of the distal interphalangeal joint dip.
A mallet finger is where the end of a finger is bent flexed towards the palm and cannot straighten. Apply ice to the hurt finger joint to minimize swelling and tenderness. This handout explains the followup care after the surgery to repair your mallet finger. Usually the injury happens when something strikes the tip of the finger, and sometimes a small fracture is evident as well. Most mallet finger injuries can be managed nonsurgically, but occasionally surgery is recommended for either an acute or a chronic mallet finger or for salvage of failed prior treatment. Therefore its management should be approached in a sufficiently aggressive manner to provide the best possible.
To look for a break an xray of your injured finger is taken. Exercises improve movement and strength of your finger after this injury. It can occur in a number of ways, but most commonly when a straight finger is stubbed and forced to bend suddenly at the joint. The purpose of this splint is to not allow the tip of your finger to bend at all. Mallet finger injuriesa new method to maintain distal. The untreated mallet fracture causes a painfull finger, swan neck deformity, and degenerative arthritis. Fulltext pdf psychosocial reactions to upper extremity limb salvage.
The finger joints work like hinges when the fingers bend and straighten. However, any action that bends the joint further than it is meant to bend can cause mallet finger. Mallet finger occurs when the tendon that straightens the last joint of your finger is torn. The usual cause is an injury to the end of the finger. Some authors combine these techniques by performing a tran sosseous. The treatment of chronic mallet finger deformities in children can be challenging. Tenodermodesis for chronic mallet finger deformities in. In this situation, the joint can be pushed straight, but will not hold that position on its own. Mallet finger injuries named for the resulting flexion deformity of the fingertip, which resembles a mallet or hammer. Less often, the cause is a break at the bottom of the bone where the tendon attaches. When you do try to straighten it, the tip of your finger remains bent toward your palm. Mallet tendon rupture therapy the protocol for treating mallet fingers is the same whether the patient has required open reduction and internal fixation, percutaneous pin fixation, or is being treated nonoperatively.
Few long term studies of the results have been published. Various orthotic interventions and techniques have been researched in the field of mallet finger rehabilitation. This results in either a tear of the tendon or the tendon pulling off a bit of bone. Mallet finger patient information leaflet what is a mallet finger. We used a pin that was inserted into the bone to make sure that the finger does not move. Mallet finger injuries are usually successfully treated nonoperatively with a splint. Mallet thumb is not as commonly seen as mallet finger. Rehabilitation exercises might be required to restore mobility in the joint. Review on mallet finger treatment article pdf available in hand surgery 173. They are the most prevalent finger tendon injury in sport.
The ishiguro technique for the treatment of mallet finger. Sports injuries are the most common cause of mallet finger, particularly from catching a ball. Author links open overlay panel dershnee devan bocc ukzn. Mallet finger most often occurs when something hits the tip of your straightened finger and bends it down with force. The main knuckle joint is the metacarpophalangeal joint mcp joint. A mallet finger injury is when the end of your finger is bent and cannot straighten. The injury may occur when the extended tip of the thumb hits an object with forced flexion of the distal ip joint or due to a hyperflexion or hyperextension injury, resulting in either a tear of the extensor tendon or an avulsion of the bony attachment of the tendon from its. This leaflet sets out some exercises you should do each day to help your finger to heal.
A novel way of treating mallet finger injuries sciencedirect. Mallet finger is also known as baseball finger, however this injury can happen to anyone when an object like a ball strikes the tip of a finger or thumb and bends the finger further than it. After you have worn the mallet splint all the time for the recommended period, usually eight 8. The injury usually happens when the tendon is torn or stretched. It will take a further six weeks before you can return to heavy activities. A very small minority of injuries that combine a fracture with dipj. Gently bend the injured finger with your other hand.
Mallet finger mallet finger is an injury to the thin tendon that helps straighten the end of a finger or thumb. Pdf how do hand therapists conservatively manage acute, closed. The term mallet finger has long been used to describe the deformity produced by disruption of the terminal extensor mechanism at the distal interphalangeal dip joint. Also known as baseball finger, it is an injury that is typically sustained while playing sports. Sometimes, a small fragment of bone may be pulled, or avulsed, from the distal phalanx. You will not be able to straighten the end of your finger because the tendon connecting the muscle to the finger bone is stretched or torn. Mallet finger doctor of physical therapy orange county. The technique of tenodermodesis for chronic mallet finger injuries in children is presented here, featuring careful repair of the extensor. Rehabilitation following mallet finger south tees hospitals nhs.
In most of the cases, complete healing and functional restoration can be achieved by conservative treatment. Vaghelainterventions for treating mallet finger injuries. Mallet finger therapy exercises things you didnt know. Mallet finger occurs when you cannot straighten your finger. Then wrap the finger with clean gauze or a clean fabric. A mallet finger usually results from over bending of the finger tip. Here are some examples of exercises for you to try. Either one results in an inability to extend the dip joint. The exercises may be suggested for a condition or for rehabilitation. Racgp mallet finger management and patient compliance.
Mallet finger refers to a condition in which the end joint of a finger bends but will not straighten by itself. Previously proposed for the treatment of chronic mallet fingers in adults, tenodermodesis is a reconstructive procedure that may also be applied to the pediatric population. Mallet finger occurs when there is a disruption in the tendon that straightens the tip of the finger. This condition is also known as baseball finger because it most often. Ideal for trigger finger, mallet finger, broken or fractured finger, sprained knuckles, rheumatoid arthritis, tendonitis, post stroke finger curling, postoperative care and finger pain relief. Mallet finger why is physical therapy important to your. The tendon on the back of the joint snaps or pulls off its attachment to the bone. A mallet finger results when the extensor tendon is cut or torn from the attachment on the bone. Mallet finger splint care instructions in order to achieve the best result, you must wear your splint 24 hours a day without interruption. Complications and prognosis of treatment of mallet finger.
Mallet finger is the term applied to extensor avulsion fractures or distal extensor tendon ruptures. What to expect wearing a splint on your finger to keep it straight is the most common treatment for mallet finger. There are many variations in the design of splints. Mallet finger is an injury to the end of your finger that causes it to bend inwards towards your palm. This is caused by an injury to the tendon that straightens the end of your finger. Splint weaning program for mallet finger deformity johns hopkins. Mallet finger is a flexion deformity of the finger that results from injury to the extensor mechanism at the base of the distal phalanx. Application range the finger splint is effectively to straighten and immobilize the full finger knuckles while protecting the finger and hand. When it is injured, you cant straighten the fingertip anymore. Each of these followup patients was questioned about complications from splinting or surgical. Such treatment is normally very successful, although full extension of the joint may never be regained.
The tendon that attaches to the tip of your finger bone on the back. With mallet finger, the tendon on the back of the finger not the palm side is separated from the joint it connects. Comparison 2 kirschner wire fixation versus splint, outcome 1 treatment failure. Physiotherapy in hamilton for hand pain mallet finger. Mallet finger is a condition in which the tendon in the outermost joint of a finger is ripped, causing the tip of the finger to droop. Mallet finger advice on removal of your splint your tendon is becoming stronger but it is not fully healed. Mallet finger fracture is a deformity produced by avulsion of the extensor tendon insertion at the base of the distal phalanx. Recommendations for best practice and further research are presented. Use a moderate quantity of pressure to assist stop any bleeding. Mallet finger is a flexion deformity resulting from avulsion of the extensor mechanism from the dip joint synonyms for this injury are baseball finger and drop finger, and jamming injuries in ball sports are common the anatomy of the dorsal apparatus of the fingers is. Splinting appears to be effective in uncomplicated and complicated cases. It can occur in a number of ways, but most commonly when a straight finger is stubbed and forced to bend suddenly at the joint near the tip.
In the digits splinted there was a 45% rate of complications, mostly skin related. Mallet finger occurs when the outermost end joint of the finger is injured. Mallet finger, also known as baseball finger, is an injury to the thin tendon that straightens the end joint of a finger or thumb. Treatment of mallet finger injury is generally nonsurgical or. Treatment for a mallet finger usually consists of splinting the finger continuously for 68 weeks, followed by a gradual reduction in the use of the splint. The patient with a chronic deformity is splinted longer than the patient with an acute deformity. Mallet finger is an easily reparable deformity when it is handled appropriately. Then wrap the finger with clean gauze or a clean cloth.
They may represent an isolated tendinous injury or occur in combination with. When the conservative treatment is applied, it is necessary to use an extension splint for six to eight weeks and then, use a night splint for one month. Rehabilitation following mallet finger patient information what is mallet finger. Mallet finger recovery exercises answers on healthtap. After 8 weeks of continuous splint wear, and keeping the tip joint of the finger.
Mallet finger, also known as baseball finger, happens when the tendon on top of the hand that straightens the finger extensor tendon sustains an injury, stopping the finger from straightening all the way and causing the tip to droop. It is the most common closed tendon injury seen in athletes, although it is also common in nonathletes after. The injury tears the tendon that straightens extends the end of the finger. The injury results when an unyielding object like a ball strikes the tip of the digit and forces it to bend further than it is intended to go. Functional outcome and satisfaction with a selfcare protocol for the.
Each finger has three phalanges, or small bones, separated by two interphalangeal joints. Typically this occurs when a ball hits an outstretched finger and jams it. Mallet finger most often happens when there is an injury to the tendon on the top side of your finger. Mallet finger home program phase 2 exercises david.
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