Just another iHealthSpot WP02 site

en English
ar Arabiczh-CN Chinese (Simplified)nl Dutchen Englishfr Frenchde Germanit Italianpt Portugueseru Russianes Spanish
search

call today: (561) 798-6600

Prescription Refill

Physician Referral

Online Bill Pay

Request an Appointment

MENUMENU
  • About Us
  • Meet Our Doctors
    • Harvey Montijo, MD
    • Garvin Yee, MD
    • Mark Waeltz, MD
    • Veronica Pedro, MD
    • José Ortega, MD
    • Robert Lins, MD
    • Robert Rochman, MD
    • David Simpson, MD
    • Anand P. Panchal, DO
    • Harvey E. Montijo, MD
    • Gavin Hart, MD
  • Services
    • Urgent Care
    • On-site Services
    • Workers Compensation
  • Specialties
    • General Orthopedics
    • Sports Medicine
    • Spine & Neck
    • Shoulder & Elbow
    • Hand & Wrist
    • Hip & Knee
    • Foot & Ankle
    • Physical Therapy
  • Patient Resources
  • Locations
    • Royal Palm Beach
    • Wellington
    • Boynton Beach
    • Belle Glade
    • Jupiter
    • Port Saint Lucie
  • Contact Us
  • Watch Video
  • Read Article

Mallet Finger Injury - Baseball Finger

Back to Patient Education

Click the white PLAY button to start video.

 

A mallet finger injury occurs when the tip of a finger or the thumb is forcefully flexed.  The force injures the tendon that straightens the fingertip joint.  A mallet finger injury is also referred to as a baseball finger injury because it commonly occurs during the sport of baseball. 

A mallet finger injury causes loss of movement, pain, and swelling.  The joint at the end of the finger is noted to droop.  Most mallet finger injuries are treated with splinting.  In cases of fracture or malalignment, surgery may be necessary to treat the condition.

Read more about Mallet Finger Injury - Baseball Finger

  • Introduction
  • Anatomy
  • Causes
  • Symptoms
  • Diagnosis
  • Treatment
  • Surgery
  • Recovery
  • Prevention
  • Introduction
  • Anatomy
  • Causes
  • Symptoms
  • Diagnosis
  • Treatment
  • Surgery
  • Recovery
  • Prevention

Introduction

A mallet finger injury occurs when the tip of a finger or the thumb is forcefully flexed.  The force injures the tendon that straightens the fingertip joint.  A mallet finger injury is also referred to as a baseball finger injury because it commonly occurs during the sport of baseball. 

A mallet finger injury causes loss of movement, pain, and swelling.  The joint at the end of the finger is noted to droop.  Most mallet finger injuries are treated with splinting.  In cases of fracture or malalignment, surgery may be necessary to treat the condition.

Back to top

Anatomy

Your fingers are made up of three bones called phalanges.  Two joints separate the phalanges.  The distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints are located near your fingertips.  The proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints are located in the middle of your fingers. 

Extensor tendons are attached to your phalanges . The extensor mechanism covers the entire finger.  The extensor tendons allow your fingers to extend (straighten).  
Back to top

Causes

A mallet finger injury occurs when the tip of a finger or the thumb is forcefully bent down (flexed).  The force tears the extensor tendon that is attached to the distal phalanx.  This can happen during sports, such as baseball.  If the force is great enough, the tendon may remain intact, but a small piece of bone can be pulled away where it attaches to the phalanx.  This is called an avulsion fracture.  A mallet finger can also occur if the extensor tendon is cut.
Back to top

Symptoms

A mallet finger injury will cause pain and swelling at your DIP joint.  You will not be able to straighten the end of your fingertip.  The end of your finger will droop down. 
Back to top

Diagnosis

Your doctor can diagnose a mallet finger injury by examining your finger.  You should tell your doctor about how you sustained your injury.  X-rays will be used to identify an avulsion fracture, joint malalignment, or associated injuries. 
Back to top

Treatment

The majority of mallet finger injuries are treated with splinting.  You will wear a finger splint full time for about six weeks.  It is important not to remove the finger splint at any time, even while you shower.  If the finger splint is removed, even for the shortest amount of time, the treatment is disrupted and the process must start all over.  The full time splint schedule is followed by a part time splint wearing schedule for another three or four weeks.
 
The splint should be removed, however, in a certain way, to allow observation and care of the skin.  The finger must be kept in extension by resting it on a flat surface whenever the splint is removed.
Back to top

Surgery

Surgery may be necessary for mallet finger injuries with fractures and joint malalignment.  Surgical hardware, such as pins, wires, and screws, are used to hold the bones in place while they heal.  In rare cases, the extensor tendon may be tightened or repaired with a graft.
Back to top

Recovery

Splinting and surgical treatments are usually followed by hand therapy rehabilitation.  A hand therapist will show you exercises to stretch and strengthen your joints.  The other joints in your fingers may become stiff and benefit from hand therapy exercises as well.  It can take a mallet finger injury several months to heal fully.  Healing is an individualized process.  Your doctor will let you know what to expect.
Back to top

Prevention

If you receive a mallet finger injury, you should elevate your hand above the level of your heart and apply ice intermittently until you can get to your doctor’s office.  You should receive medical attention if you experience bleeding beneath your fingernail.  Mallet finger injuries that receive prompt treatment tend to have better outcomes. 
Back to top

Copyright ©  - iHealthSpot Interactive - www.iHealthSpot.com

This information is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It should not be used in place of an individual consultation or examination or replace the advice of your health care professional and should not be relied upon to determine diagnosis or course of treatment.

The iHealthSpot patient education library was written collaboratively by the iHealthSpot editorial team which includes Senior Medical Authors Dr. Mary Car-Blanchard, OTD/OTR/L and Valerie K. Clark, and the following editorial advisors: Steve Meadows, MD, Ernie F. Soto, DDS, Ronald J. Glatzer, MD, Jonathan Rosenberg, MD, Christopher M. Nolte, MD, David Applebaum, MD, Jonathan M. Tarrash, MD, and Paula Soto, RN/BSN. This content complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. The library commenced development on September 1, 2005 with the latest update/addition on April 13th, 2016. For information on iHealthSpot’s other services including medical website design, visit www.iHealthSpot.com.

Footer

PATIENT EDUCATION

Learn more about your orthopedic condition or treatment in our education library.

 learn MORE

Our providers are the head team physicians for the following sports teams and schools.

Arrow
Arrow

Home

About Us

In the News

Employment Opportunities

Patient Resources

Meet Our Doctors

Services

Specialties

Privacy Policy

Sitemap

Request an Appointment

Prescription Refill

Physician Referral

Online Bill Pay

The Center for Bone and Joint Surgery of the Palm Beaches, Royal Palm Beach, Florida
 

440 & 460 North State Road 7,
Royal Palm Beach, Florida 33411

Phone: (561) 798-6600
Fax: (561) 753-3328
The Center for Bone and Joint Surgery of the Palm Beaches, Wellington, Florida
 

10111 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 151
10131 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 206,
Wellington, FL 33414

Phone: (561) 798-6600
Fax: (561) 753-3328
The Center for Bone and Joint Surgery of the Palm Beaches, Boynton Beach, Florida
 

8188 Jog Road, Suite 102,
Boynton Beach, FL 33437

Phone: (561) 798-6600
Fax: (561) 753-3328
The Center for Bone and Joint Surgery of the Palm Beaches, Belle Glade, Florida
 

1100 South Main Street, Suite 101,
Belle Glade, FL 33430

Phone: (561) 798-6600
Fax: (561) 753-3328
The Center for Bone and Joint Surgery of the Palm Beaches, Port Saint Lucie, Florida
 

582 NW University Blvd, Suite 100,
Port St. Lucie, Florida 34986

Phone: (561) 798-6600
Fax: (561) 753-3328
The Center for Bone and Joint Surgery of the Palm Beaches, Jupiter/PGA, Florida

 
875 Military Trail, Suite 105,
Jupiter, FL 33458

Phone: (561) 798-6600
Copyright ©  The Center for Bone & Joint Surgery
All Rights Reserved.

iHealthspot Medical Website Design and Medical Marketing by iHealthSpot.com

The Center for Bone & Joint Surgery of the Palm Beaches provides the following services & specialties: Urgent Care, Workers' Compensation, General Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, Physical Therapy, Spine & Neck, Shoulder & Elbow, Hand & Wrist, Hip & Knee, Foot & Ankle in Wellington, Royal Palm Beach, Boynton Beach, Jupiter, and Belle Glade