Mallet finger most often occurs when something hits the tip of your straightened finger and bends it down with force. 8th ed. Thanks a lot. Hope to be in good shape when I'll be at his office next month. 0000004880 00000 n Most can be completely treated with non-removable finger splinting until the tendon heals itself or the bone seals the fracture.If theres no cut or laceration, a cold treatment (ice) can be applied to bring down the swelling. A tongue depressor or a clean popsicle stick can be taped to the bottom or top of the finger across the joint temporarily to keep it straight. This is especially true in injuries that require surgery. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Ive listened to your frustration. This can happen fast from jamming or cutting the finger, and it can happen slowly from arthritis stretching out the tendon over time. /Encoding 16 0 R %PDF-1.2 You should keep your splint on unless your doctor tells you that you can take it off. /F7 9 0 R mallet finger | Finger and Hand Problems | Forums | Patient A mallet finger is an injury to the extensor tendon on the back of the finger, which is the tendon used to straighten the digit. 0000007068 00000 n /F5 7 0 R stream These types of injuries may lead to chronic infection or abnormal growth of the distal phalanx.Mallet fingers with exposed bone or with a cut tendon should be treated urgently to prevent infection.If a mallet finger is not treated promptly, the finger may not function properly and may cause pain. /BitsPerComponent 8 A drooping finger is more commonly known as a Mallet finger injury. How Can You Treat a Mallet Finger? - Verywell Health Getting your plaster off is just the beginning, 2 Convenient locations: Calamvale & Greenslopes (see Contact Us for more details). Approximately ten days after surgery you will meet back up with your doctor to remove the sutures and monitor the progress of the healing. Reproduced with permission from JF Sarwark, ed: Essentials of Musculoskeletal Care, ed 4. After realizing that youre unable to straighten your finger, your healthcare provider may require an: Both immediate and long-term treatment is essential to healing. X /Width 101 The DIP joint was immobilised for 6 weeks in a . That's perfectly fine. % of people told us that this article helped them. %PDF-1.5 % Using an ice pack can help with pain. 0000009563 00000 n << /degree/plusminus/twosuperior/threesuperior/acute/mu/paragraph/periodcentered Mallet Finger Injuries - therapy-specialists.com Before we dive in, catch the video below to find out why your mallet finger may still be drooping. endobj Blood can collect beneath the nail, and the nail can even become detached at the base. Your hand surgeon will help recommend the proper treatment that is specific to you. 0000001077 00000 n /Encoding 16 0 R /MediaBox [ 0 0 610 795 ] >> But you may develop arthritis if the tendon pulls off a piece of bone from the joint surface and it remains displaced. endobj Dr. Catania is a board certified Family Medicine Physician in Pennsylvania. The hand can be elevated (fingers toward the ceiling). Splinting for a mallet finger. 0000011139 00000 n Over time, arthritis can develop. When your injury involves only the extensor tendon, subsequent arthritis rarely develops. Youll need to wash and dry the splint once a day (keep your finger straight when you do it). This gives the finger the appearance of a mallet or hammer. xq5csOmv8L"8z&gj\03TnxO_~2/;]~~Z3}sn>?_M?T[>/ FM_~%H$U vHPZ&Ud%C{?'~/f6KUnj{lnl_~Fg2-6jvNV_R)?-2?UkGv.qx[VD3lg90?/_y4 g) (Top) A rupture of the extensor tendon. More than likely, you wont get a noticeable droop if you were placed in slight hyperextension in the splint. Your primary healthcare provider may be able to treat your mallet finger. If there is a piece of bone pulled off, your healthcare provider may order another X-ray after a week or two of splinting to check on the appropriate position of the bone fragment and the healing process. /BaseFont /Times-Bold If the joint is in good alignment within the splint, surgery is not necessary. Medical attention should be sought within a week after injury. The muscles that move the fingers and thumb are located in the forearm. 0000047509 00000 n /BaseFont /Times-BoldItalic >> Injury to the extensor tendon at the DIP joint, also known as mallet finger ( Figure 2), is the most common closed tendon injury of the finger. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. /Type /Font /Type /Font 0000008777 00000 n /Type /Font All you need to know about Mallet Finger, Recovering from a Broken Wrist. There will be some stress to the tendon once you starting bending your finger. Mallet finger injury - Melbourne Hand Surgery can get it. This may be a sign of a nail bed injury or an open (compound) fracture. DO NOT let your finger go unsupported! You can do your best to avoid mallet finger injuries by being careful when you play sports that use a hard ball. 4. So dont delay, if youve got any of the above symptoms takes steps towards your recovery and book in with an accredited hand therapist today! hbbd``b`j~@q3` % tk*%"~ p- !"4hd`bd 2"? 2 /Encoding 16 0 R /dieresis/copyright/ordfeminine/guillemotleft/logicalnot/hyphen/registered/macron You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. /Parent 2 0 R In: Wolfe SW, Pederson WC, Kozin SH, Coshen MS, eds. Early treatment with hand therapy is very simple! These cookies do not store any personal information. You should go to the emergency department when you get injured. First, I find most people do not know what type of mallet finger they have, or go to the doctor to confirm the diagnosis. An orthopedic surgeon with experience in hand surgery performs mallet finger repair. stream ]V!N&tMBtrl5_z[!%@ You should expect to be in a cast consistently for at least six weeks, possibly more, depending on your progress. In most cases, you should be back to normal after three to four months. It is important that you do not return to sport or manual work without the splint on for 12 weeks after treatment commenced or else you are at risk of re-injuring the finger. << $.' There will be some stress to the tendon once you starting bending your finger. /Name /F6 The tendon has a better chance of scarring and therefore, healing. Youll then wear your splint day and night for a minimum of six weeks. The flexor tendons on the palm side of the hand bend the fingers. % /Encoding 16 0 R In these cases, wires or small screws are used to realign the joint (see Figure 4). Each time you take it off and bend your finger tip, it can lengthen your recovery time. 0000004532 00000 n /Type /Font Thats why its so important to make sure you know which type of mallet finger you have. To relieve pain and reduce swelling, apply ice to your finger immediately and keep your hand elevated above your heart. Surgery is rarely needed except for more severe fractures. endobj /F3 5 0 R Your splint is made of hard plastic or aluminum. /Subtype /Type1 0000004992 00000 n An inability to straighten your fingertip. Then get theMallet Finger On Demand Self Treatment Program here. 0000005019 00000 n /Type /Font Most complications result from lack of adequate treatment that doesnt appropriately immobilize your finger. Skiers Thumb, more common than you think! >> Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Fighting Finger Droop - Mallet Finger | Skin Bones CME American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2003. Even after eight to 12 weeks of splinting, it might be another three to four months before your mallet finger fully heals. 0000005843 00000 n %%EOF It is easy enough to get started with a splint your doctor gives you, or you might be tempted to use a splint that you found at the drugstore. A mallet finger can also result from a deep cut from a knife or sharp object on the back of the finger. However, some slight droop, bumpiness, or contour difference in this finger can be permanent. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. In: Miller MD, Thompson SR, eds. 8 0 obj Keep your finger straight at all times. Mallet finger injuries occur when a forceful blow is delivered to the tip of a finger while the finger is flexed. Removing your splint even once, without support, can undo all that healing goodness. On rare occasions, supplemental imaging studies such as an ultrasound or MRI may provide additional information. When you remove the splint, you may need to perform rehabilitation exercises to decrease the stiffness in the joint. Figure 1 Example of mallet finger with drooping of tip Figure 2 This is a figure-eight splint that you wear around the PIP joint all the time for several. They will show you exercises to maintain motion at the middle joint while the end joint is held still. Mallet finger, a common problem for baseball players, is an injury to the tendon at the tip of your finger. What to Expect Wearing a splint on your finger to keep it straight is the most common treatment for mallet finger. The majority of mallet finger injuries can be treated without surgery. /F9 11 0 R This is why its so important to make sure you get the correct diagnosis. This is very common if care was delayed however I have also seen it very acutely too. /BaseFont /Helvetica-Oblique What causes swelling in mallet finger after 10 weeks in a splint? endobj A mallet finger is a deformity of the finger typically caused by injury. This will result in a slight droop. If your mallet finger injury is more complex, your surgeon may need to surgically insert a small pin into your finger to hold the joint straight while it heals. One of the advantages of the Oval 8 splint is that it can get wet. In fact, anyone can get a mallet finger injury, even from doing something as simple as making the bed. The splint is made of moulded plastic and constructed specifically for your finger by a hand therapist. A splint holds the fingertip straight (in extension) until it heals. /F2 4 0 R Copyright 1995-2021 by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Theres really no way to tell which one that you have unless you see a doctor and get an x-ray. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. endstream endobj startxref 11 0 obj startxref Your treating therapist will show you how to safely wash the finger and reapply the splint without bending the fingertip. A mallet finger is an injury that should be treated, but you should be able to go about your daily life. hb```c``me`e`ned@ A+I@Zdjvd5AR@ bV`mH@ YV000`mHlzg;;D./=-T)asiK/Me8 3C.H310pf0|ro0 -^ Youll be able to go home once youre stable and shouldnt need to stay overnight in the hospital.