And I wish I would have come across your screen sooner to save you time and worry. More than likely, you wont get a noticeable droop if you were placed in slight hyperextension in the splint. /Encoding 16 0 R There are several types of splints. hb`````d IY8a3/&i "R&/urk~FMS9m`-6@ During this time, the splint may be carefully removed to allow for cleansing of both the splint and the finger, but you should avoid strenuous activities and sports to prevent recurrent injury. All rights reserved. /BaseFont /Courier-Bold Also known as "baseball finger," it is an injury that is typically sustained while playing sports. Even after eight to 12 weeks of splinting, it might be another three to four months before your mallet finger fully heals. << In these cases, wires or small screws are used to realign the joint (see Figure 4). This can cause inadequate healing of the tendon if this happens several times throughout the 6-8 weeks of splinting. Thats why its so important to make sure you know which type of mallet finger you have. /Subtype /Type1 >> 28 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<3B38AA466A30E270D6E98E6A9C008F9A><2B1C330AB2637C49AB36EB55B4848829>]/Index[10 34]/Info 9 0 R/Length 89/Prev 42369/Root 11 0 R/Size 44/Type/XRef/W[1 2 1]>>stream In 101 patients a tendinous mallet finger was present, and in 20 patients a bony mallet finger. Rehabilitation following mallet finger - South Tees Hospitals NHS The fracture may be only at the tip of the bone at the attachment site. What happens if there is still a deformity after the splint comes off . "This article provided me with encouragement that help can be gained from using a splint even after a partially, "I found out important info about splints that are used for mallet finger.". Mallet finger - aftercare: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia Mallet finger is an injury to the thin tendon that straightens the end joint of a finger or thumb. Mallet finger injuries are commonly encountered in everyday clinical practice. This can delay the healing process and you might need to wear a splint for a longer period of time. Copyright - The Hand Recovery Centre 2016, on Dont ignore a droopy finger. /BaseFont /Times-Italic << This condition can also happen when the small joint is forcefully bent during use such as lifting heavy objects that force the joint into a bent position. Mallet finger is a condition in which the tendon in the outermost joint of a finger is ripped, causing the tip of the finger to droop. However, it may be painless and only bothersome during certain activities. $.' Last Updated: May 9, 2022 /Name /F7 Mallet finger, known as drop finger or baseball finger, is an injury to the tendon that straightens the tip of your finger (or thumb). Wrap an ice pack in a towel and put it on your finger. Typically theres a bony mallet finger where you actually avulse the tendon off with a piece of bone. When removing the splint for cleaning and drying, the fingertip must stay in extension. 16$'. Finger swelling can fluctuate causing the splint to slide around and sometimes fall off (gasp). /Type /Font The fingertip will droop noticeably and will straighten only if you push it up with your other hand. The flexor tendons on the palm side of the hand bend the fingers. Specifically, the extensor tendon is injured, resulting in the inability to actively extend the finger at the distal interphalangeal joint (DIP). 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. 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. If a fragment of the distal phalanx was pulled away when the tendon ruptured, or if there is a larger fracture of the bone, it will appear in an x-ray. You should also ice your splinted finger for 10-20 minutes three to four times per day. This means that it must be worn while bathing, then carefully changed after bathing. If there is good positioning of the bone fragments, new bone will fill the gap. 0000009563 00000 n You will not be able to straighten the end of your finger because the tendon connecting the muscle to the finger bone is stretched or torn. /BaseFont /Courier-BoldOblique This is why its so important to make sure you get the correct diagnosis. << /Length 5 0 R /Filter /FlateDecode >> 0000013732 00000 n %%EOF As soon as you take your splint off, your finger will droop again. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. If this is the case, there is a chance the fractured piece of bone may not heal. The finger is usually painful, swollen, and bruised. Youll need to know if the tendon was torn, if it detached from the bone or if theres a fracture. Video of the Day Step 2 Stretch the muscles of the fingers actively. Baseball finger - aftercare; Drop finger - aftercare; Avulsion fracture - mallet finger - aftercare. The finger may be painful, swollen and bruised, especially if there is an associated fracture, but often the only finding is the inability to straighten the tip. "I tripped and fell down on the pavement and ripped the anular tendon. In a mallet injury, when an object hits the tip of the finger or thumb, the force of the blow tears the extensor tendon. For that to happen, you must keep your fingertip immobilized every hour of every day. You should keep your splint on unless your doctor tells you that you can take it off. /PageMode /UseThumbs This type of mallet finger injury doesnt show up on an x-ray. With injury, the tendon can tear or detach from the finger bone. In most cases, there is only a small piece of bone or a tendon injury and this can be treated very effectively with hand therapy. stream But sometimes, the fracture disrupts the structure of the joint. /Length 21 0 R This results in a permanent droop. Mallet Finger - American Society for Surgery of the Hand Seeing a hand doctor will confirm the type of mallet finger you have. SP5W"]worr+1ql ^.d)Y/|y'3~F[gx,Kdderhnm78V? Surgical treatment of the damaged tendon usually requires a tendon graft tendon tissue that is taken (harvested) from another part of your body or even fusing the joint straight. % of people told us that this article helped them. Yes. The splint is then worn for shorter periods that include nighttime splinting for six more weeks. Mallet finger is an injury and is unrelated to arthritis. In most cases, you should be back to normal after three to four months. Youll be able to go home once youre stable and shouldnt need to stay overnight in the hospital. Once the mallet finger has healed, your surgeon or hand therapist will teach you exercises for the small end joint as it becomes very stiff from the splinting. Take over-the-counter pain medications, if needed. The typical treatment involves splinting and ice. /Subtype /Type1 /F5 7 0 R Dr. Catania is a board certified Family Medicine Physician in Pennsylvania. Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 09/23/2021. Your hand surgeon will help recommend the proper treatment that is specific to you.
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