What is a mallet finger?
A mallet finger is an injury of the end of the finger. It generally occurs when there is an avulsion fracture at the bone near the fingernail. This causes damage to tendons that extend your finger, and you will not be able to fully extend the tip of your finger.
Car accidents, sports injuries, and falls from a height are common causes of wrist fractures. Some wrist fractures require surgery but others can be treated with a cast. Your doctor will decide which treatment is best for you after taking your wrist fracture’s severity into consideration.
How is mallet finger treated?
Treatment of mallet finger is determined by the severity and the deformity. In general, mallet finger can be treated conservatively or surgically. Conservative treatment includes splinting or padding to rest from full extension for a period between 6–10 weeks followed by a return to normal activities.
Non-operative treatment may be successful unless there is evidence of tendon rupture at presentation, severe stiffness with flexion deformity, collapse without significant loss of active finger motion after adequate treatment with finger immobilization, or a severely deformed nail bed that will not accommodate a splint comfortably.
What happens if you don't treat a mallet finger?
Mallet fingers will not heal properly on their own. They must be splinted straight out long enough to heal. If not, you will be left with a permanent deformity to the tip of the finger. If not treated properly at first, the only treatment option down the line would be a fusion of the affected joint.
