What is the fastest way to heal mallet finger?
To treat the pain and swelling of a mallet finger immediately:
- Apply ice.
- Elevate your hand so that your fingers are above your heart.
- Take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Can mallet finger fix itself?
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.
What does mallet finger look like?
If you have mallet finger, you’re unable to straighten your finger, it droops at the tip, is painful and looks bruised and/or swollen. Mallet finger is an injury that frequently occurs in sports such as baseball, basketball or football when you try to catch a hard ball and it hits your extended fingertip.
How do you know if you have mallet finger?
Mallet Finger Symptoms
- Pain, tenderness, and swelling at the outermost joint immediately after the injury.
- Swelling and redness soon after the injury.
- Inability to completely extend the finger while still being able to move it with help.
Which tendon is involved with mallet finger?
A mallet finger is a deformity of the finger. It occurs when the tendon that straightens the finger (the extensor tendon) is damaged at the fingertip. This can commonly happen when an object (like a ball) strikes the tip of the finger or thumb. It can also happen when forceful bending of the fingertip occurs.
What is the best splint for mallet finger?
One or two Oval-8 Finger Splints may be used to hold the DIP joint in extension while still allowing flexion of the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint. Lightweight– the fingertip is open for function. Open design eliminates skin maceration. Size adjustability designed into the Oval-8 accommodates changes in swelling.
Is mallet finger serious?
Trauma to a finger usually causes mallet finger. This injury most commonly occurs in sports, particularly when trying to catch a ball that then strikes the tip of a finger—which is why it is often called baseball finger. A mallet finger is not a life-threatening or serious emergency.
Do I have to see a 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.
Does a mallet finger hurt?
In a mallet finger, the fingertip droops, and it cannot straighten on its own. The finger is commonly thought to be jammed. The finger may be painful, swollen or bruised. Occasionally, blood collects beneath the nail.
Is mallet finger an avulsion fracture?
Mallet finger is the term applied to extensor avulsion fractures or distal extensor tendon ruptures. Either one results in an inability to extend the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint.
Is mallet finger a sprain?
The problem with a mallet deformity is that many patients neglect them as a “sprained finger”. The specific difference between a sprain and a mallet finger is the latter is associated with a rupture of the tendon that extends the tip or DIP joint.
What tendon is injured with mallet finger?
In a mallet injury, when an object hits the tip of the finger or thumb, the force of the blow tears the extensor tendon. Occasionally, a minor force such as tucking in a bed sheet will cause a mallet finger.