what is the treatment for mallet finger

by Ms. Linda Rodriguez Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago

Wearing a splint on your finger to keep it straight is the most common treatment for mallet finger. You may need to wear a splint for different lengths of time. If your tendon is only stretched, not torn, it should heal in 4 to 6 weeks if you wear a splint all the time.Jul 8, 2020

What happens if mallet finger goes untreated?

Apr 01, 2022 · Wearing a splint on your finger to keep it straight is the most common treatment for mallet finger. You may need to wear a splint for different lengths of time. If your tendon is only stretched, not torn, it should heal in 4 to 6 weeks if you wear a splint all the time.

When is surgery needed for mallet finger?

Mallet finger, a common problem for baseball players, is an injury to the tendon at the tip of your finger. You may find yourself unable to completely straighten your finger, and it may droop at the top. The typical treatment involves splinting and ice. Surgery is rare. You should seek treatment for a mallet finger right away.

What is included in the initial treatment of mallet finger?

Surgery and splinting a mallet finger can leave your fingertip very stiff and weak. Jump right to our clinically proven, progressive exercise program where you will learn how to safely progress out of your splint, and start exercising. Learn how to use your hand again, worry free! Start Now Set yourself up for SUCCESS...

When is surgery indicated for mallet finger?

Mallet Finger Treatment For uncomplicated mallet finger treatment involves splinting of the DIP (distal interphalangeal) joint in slight hyperextension for a period of upto 8 weeks, with regular monitoring. For complicated mallet finger injuries operative treatment has also been recommended. Mallet Finger

Can mallet finger fix itself?

If you have a mallet finger, it needs to be treated; it will not heal on its own. You should consult with your doctor, and possibly a hand surgeon.Dec 26, 2015

How is a mallet finger best treated?

Most mallet finger injuries are treated with splinting. A splint holds the fingertip straight (in extension) until it heals. There are several types of splints used to treat mallet finger, many of them fabricated by hand therapists.

How can I fix my mallet finger at home?

Mallet Finger Self-Care at Home Apply a moderate amount of pressure to help stop any bleeding. Apply ice to the injured finger joint to reduce swelling and tenderness. Wrap ice in a towel. Do not apply ice directly to your skin.Jun 7, 2020

Is mallet finger serious?

The bottom line. Mallet finger is a common injury caused when an impact damages the tendon of a fingertip. Most injuries can be successfully treated without surgery. If you injure a finger and can't straighten your fingertip, it's best to see a doctor as soon as possible for treatment.Dec 11, 2018

What is the best splint for mallet finger?

There are many splints on the market, but I have found the best way is an aluminum splint to keep the tip joint straight. Specifically, the tip of the finger should be kept straight but to allow free PIP and MP motions.

How do I know when mallet finger is healed?

Follow-up. When it is time for your splint to come off, your provider will examine how well your finger has healed. Swelling in your finger when you are no longer wearing the splint may be a sign that the tendon has not healed yet.

What happens to an untreated mallet finger?

Mallet finger leads to an imbalance in the distribution of the extensor force between the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) and DIP joints. If left untreated, mallet finger leads to a swan neck deformity from PIP joint hyper extension and DIP joint flexion.Feb 25, 2014

Should I go to the doctor for mallet finger?

Mallet finger treatment If you have injured your finger and it is painful, swollen, or difficult to straighten, see your doctor right away. Delaying treatment can cause permanent damage or may make your injury more difficult to fix. In most cases, your doctor may tell you to put ice on the injury to prevent swelling.Mar 18, 2021

How do you tape a mallet finger?

0:141:35Splinting: Mallet (Kinesiology Taping Technique) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo what we're going to end up doing is we're gonna take a one centimeter to two centimeter bandageMoreSo what we're going to end up doing is we're gonna take a one centimeter to two centimeter bandage strip here or eye strip. Just along the volar aspect of the digit the di p joint.

Can I take my finger splint off to shower?

Tape a sheet of plastic to cover your splint when you take a shower or bath, unless your doctor said you can take it off while bathing. If you can take the splint off when you bathe, pat the area dry after bathing and put the splint back on. If your splint gets a little wet, you can dry it with a hair dryer.

What causes a mallet finger?

Some of the common causes of a mallet finger include: 1 Sports injuries in which a ball hits the end of the finger (hence the name baseball finger) 2 Falls in which you to land on your extended finger

What is mallet finger xray?

Doctors will examine the finger and typically perform an X-ray to assess the finger joints and the bones. Most mallet fingers cause damage only to the tendon, so the X-rays will look normal, but it is important to rule out any associated injuries.

How to tell if your mallet finger is bent?

Mallet Finger Symptoms. A mallet finger is an obvious injury, if you know what you're looking for: the last joint of the finger will be bent down, and while you can push the tip up with your other hand , the finger won't fully straighten on its own. When you first hurt your finger, it can be quite painful, but the pain tends to drop ...

Why is my baseball finger bent?

Causes. Diagnosis. Treatment. A mallet finger, sometimes called "baseball finger" or drop finger, is caused by an injury to the tendon at the tip of the finger that causes the finger to remain bent and only be straightened with assistance. It's frequently caused by jamming your finger.

How long does it take for a mallet to heal?

Treatment. Most of the time, even if treatment is delayed, mallet fingers can heal in about eight to 12 weeks with just a simple splint. 2 . A Stack splint is the easiest type of splint to use for this injury. It is shaped like your fingertip and slips over your finger to below the level of the joint.

Why do my mallet fingers go undiagnosed?

Due to minimal pain, many mallet fingers go undiagnosed for weeks or longer, because people are unaware of the significance of their injury. In some people, when the tip of the finger is struck quite forcefully, there may also be injury to the fingernail, and the underlying nail bed. Often there is bruising noted underneath the fingernail .

What does a splint look like?

It is shaped like your fingertip and slips over your finger to below the level of the joint. You can find ones that are clear or are flesh-colored. If you take the splint off and allow your finger to bend before it's healed, the treatment will probably have to be restarted from the beginning.

How long does it take for a mallet finger to heal?

You may need to wear a splint for different lengths of time. If your tendon is only stretched, not torn, it should heal in 4 to 6 weeks if you wear a splint all the time.

How to stop a swollen finger from getting wet?

If they get wet, dry them after your shower. Keep your finger straight at all times. Using an ice pack can help with pain. Apply the ice pack for 20 minutes, every hour you are awake for the first 2 days, then for 10 to 20 minutes, 3 times daily as needed to reduce pain and swelling.

What is the tendon on the back of your finger?

Tendons attach muscles to bones. The tendon that attaches to the tip of your finger bone on the back side helps you straighten your fingertip. Mallet finger most often occurs when something hits the tip of your straightened finger and bends it down with force.

How to keep a splint from drooping?

Be careful when you take off your splint to clean it. Keep your finger straight the whole time the splint is off. Letting your fingertip droop or bend may mean you will have to wear your splint even longer. When you shower, cover your finger and splint with a plastic bag. If they get wet, dry them after your shower.

What does it mean when your finger is swelling when you don't wear a splint?

Swelling in your finger when you are no longer wearing the splint may be a sign that the tendon has not healed yet. You may need another x-ray of your finger.

How long does it take for a tendon to heal after a splint?

If your tendon is torn or pulled off the bone, it should heal in 6 to 8 weeks of wearing a splint all the time. After that, you will need to wear your splint for another 3 to 4 weeks, at night only. If you wait to start treatment or do not wear the splint as you are told, you may have to wear it longer.

Can you take off a splint?

But it should not be so tight that it cuts off blood flow. You should keep your splint on unless your doctor tells you that you can take it off. Each time you take it off, it can lengthen your recovery time. If your skin is white when you take off your splint, it may be too tight.

Overview

Mallet finger, known as drop finger or baseball finger, is an injury to the tendon that straightens the tip of your finger (or thumb). Tendons attach your bones to your muscles, providing stability and motion. With injury, the tendon can tear or detach from the finger bone. In some cases you may injure your finger bone along with your tendon.

Symptoms and Causes

Mallet finger injury happens when something hard hits your extended finger or when there’s some trauma to your fingertip, like getting it caught in a door.

Diagnosis and Tests

After realizing that you’re unable to straighten your finger, your healthcare provider may require an:

Prevention

You can do your best to avoid mallet finger injuries by being careful when you play sports that use a hard ball. But these injuries are common accidents that aren’t always preventable.

Living With

Yes. A mallet finger is an injury that should be treated, but you should be able to go about your daily life. You’ll need to avoid sports until you’ve completely healed. You may need to take some time off work depending on how much you use the injured finger for your job.

How long does it take to heal a mallet finger?

Statistics show you ONLY get 13-16 minutes, or less, with your doctor during your office visit. Unfortunately, most orthopedic surgeons use medical jargon, which may leave you more confused about what to do for your mallet finger. Sometimes you are sent to physical or occupational therapy for your mallet finger recovery.

Can you go to physical therapy for a mallet finger?

Sometimes you are sent to physical or occupational therapy for your mallet finger recovery. Occasionally, your questions may be answered. However, you may be left sharing your time between 3-4 other people with varying injuries, and probably not receiving the one on one care you deserve. While, consequently, being left with a hefty bill.

Can a mallet finger be splinted?

What is the best treatment for a mallet finger?

Splinting is the treatment of choice for almost all mallet finger injuries. Open treatment can result in frequent complications, and the surgeon should resist the temptation to “make good better” by operating on these injuries.

How long does it take to splint a mallet finger?

For uncomplicated mallet finger treatment involves splinting of the DIP (distal interphalangeal) joint in slight hyperextension for a period of upto 8 weeks, with regular monitoring. For complicated mallet finger injuries operative treatment has also been recommended.

What happens if you don't splint your finger?

The consequences of not splinting are a chronic mallet finger type flexion deformity with osteophyte formation and degeneration of the DIP surface.

How long should you keep a mallet finger in hyperextension?

Please try again later. During mallet finger treatment, emphasize to the patient that the joint must be kept in hyperextension at all times during the 8 weeks, even when the splint is removed for cleaning. If a patient is not prepared to do so, then the joint should not be splinted.

How long do you wear a splint?

The splint is then worn for an additional 6-8 weeks while engaging in sports activities and at night. Treatment is re instituted at any sign of recurrence of a lag. The splint may be made of metal or plastic and applied to either volar or dorsal surface; patients with dorsal splints maintain pulp sensation.

How long does it take to heal a mallet finger?

Mallet finger is typically treated by splinting the fingertip in an extended position for six to 12 weeks and keeping the following in mind: Factors for successful treatment: This is highly dependent on keeping the finger straight at all times, even when changing the splint.

What causes a mallet finger?

Usually, mallet finger is caused by a blow to the extended fingertip. Athletes are at the highest risk, as the injury can involve a ball, another player, or hitting the ground. The diagnosis of mallet finger is made based on physical examination and X-rays.

Why is my mallet finger straight?

The finger was straight rather than bent: The flexor tendon is relaxed and the extensor tendon was pulled tight. The blow caused sudden bending: This can stretch or tear the extensor tendon, resulting in mallet finger. Bone injury: In some cases, a piece of bone gets torn off along with the extensor tendon.

What tendon extends the fingertip?

The extensor tendon found on the backside of the hand, and the flexor tendon, found on the palm side, work together to extend the fingertip. Mallet finger is an injury to the extensor tendon that causes an inability to extend the fingertip. It is commonly caused by a direct blow to the fingertip, such as while trying to catch a ball.

Why does my finger turn white?

An abnormal fingertip appearance: Splinting can lead to skin damage and/or loss of blood supply to the fingertip (causing the skin to turn white), often due to overextending the finger . Your medical provider can provide guidance on how to prevent further damage by splinting properly.

What is the dark spot on my finger?

Swelling. Bruising. Blood collection under the fingernail: If the fingertip injury also involves the fingernail, a collection of blood beneath the fingernail may be visible as a dark spot. A detached fingernail: The fingernail may start to detach from the finger.

Why does my index finger hurt?

This condition may occur after a traumatic injury to the hand, a nail infection, or arthritis. A fracture or dislocation can cause bruising and index finger joint pain that will need immediate medical care. Hands are made of 19 bones, 15 joints & 3 nerves. You can experience right or left hand pain.

What Causes a Mallet Finger?

Mallet finger occurs when the end joint of the finger is injured. The tendon on the back of the finger is separated from the joint it connects. Some of the most common causes of mallet finger include:

What are the Symptoms of a Mallet Finger?

It is common for people with mallet speaker to wait on seeking medical attention even if they are in a lot of pain, simply because they can still use their hand. Common symptoms may include: