General Information About Mallet Finger
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is the condition where the fingertip remains involuntarily bent downwards due to the tearing of the ligament (tendon) that serves to lift the outermost joint of the finger upwards.
It usually occurs when a hard ball strikes the tip of the finger rapidly while playing basketball, volleyball, or baseball, or by forcefully jamming the finger against something.
At the moment of trauma, swelling, bruising, and pain begin at the fingertip. The most typical finding is that the person cannot lift the drooping fingertip upwards with their own muscle strength unless assisted by their other hand.
Most of the time, only the tendon tears. However, sometimes with a very hard blow, the tendon can tear away by taking a piece of the bone it attaches to with it. This condition is detected by X-ray.
If only the tendon is torn, surgery is not necessary. A special plastic splint that will keep the outermost joint of the finger perfectly straight is applied. It is imperative that the splint is not removed for 6-8 weeks for the tendon to heal.
If the broken bone fragment covers a large part of the joint surface or if the fingertip does not improve despite splint treatment, the joint is stabilized by inserting a fine wire under the skin from the fingertip under operating room conditions.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
