What Is a Mallet Finger?
Mallet finger is a condition characterized by injured tendons that result in straightening the finger's tip or thumb's tip. Tendons are tissues that link muscles to bones to provide stability and help in movement. A mallet finger shows three symptoms, including; drooping of the finger at the tip, the finger becoming swollen and looking bruised, and pain in the fingers. In addition, individuals affected by the condition cannot move their fingers. This condition, which is often referred to as "baseball finger," can occur to anyone if a hard item hits the tip of a finger or thumb and causes it to bend more than it is supposed to. Sometimes a small force, like tucking in a bed sheet, might also result in a mallet finger. The tendon may tear or separate from the finger bone in this kind of trauma. If bone pieces also lose their attachment, then it is known as an avulsion fracture.
What Are the Other Names of a Mallet Finger?
Alternative names for a mallet finger are:
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Baseball finger.
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Drop finger.
What Causes a Mallet Finger?
Mallet finger can occur due to the following:
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Playing sports like baseball.
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Any kind of direct hit to the extended finger.
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While doing household chores.
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Injury to the extensor tendon (tendons that travel along the back slide of the hand and the wrist).
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Children are more likely to sustain injury from a direct shock, such as crushing a finger in a door.
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Older women are more prone to experience low-impact injuries when performing tasks like making the bed or putting on socks.
Is Mallet Finger a Common Condition?
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Mallet finger is a prevalent condition, especially among athletes. However, it can also occur while doing other activities like household chores.
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Mallet finger is a common injury. Any finger on the hand may be affected. However, mallet finger injuries are most common in the dominant hand.
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Because the injury frequently occurs while playing baseball, the mallet finger is also referred to as a "baseball finger."
What Are the Symptoms of a Mallet Finger?
Some of the common symptoms of mallet finger are:
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Swelling or inflammation.
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Bruising in the finger.
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Redness and discoloration of the affected area.
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Inability to straighten the finger.
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Tenderness in the finger.
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Detachment of the fingernail.
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Redness under the nail bed.
Is Mallet Finger a Sign of Arthritis?
No, a mallet finger is not a sign of arthritis (swollen and painful joints), and it occurs due to trauma or injury. However, in rare cases, if the tendon removes a fragment of bone from the surface of the joint and it remains displaced, arthritis may occur.
How Is a Mallet Finger Diagnosed?
The diagnosis of a mallet finger is made based on the following:
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First, the patient's medical history is studied to determine whether they have recently sustained any kind of trauma or injury.
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Physical symptoms like swelling, tenderness, pain, etc., are also studied closely to confirm the diagnosis of a mallet finger. In addition, a classical sign of a drooping finger is often noticed in the case of a mallet finger.
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Imaging tests such as an X-ray or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) may be advised by the healthcare professional. These imaging examinations will reveal any bone fractures, tendon ruptures, and whether the bone is out of place. However, an MRI is more sensitive in imaging bone fragments.
How Is a Mallet Finger Treated?
If mallet finger injuries are not treated, the wounded fingertip usually becomes stiff and deformed. Most mallet finger wounds do not require surgery to heal except when the injury is chronic.
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Applying Ice Pack and Painkillers: To treat pain and swelling, the following steps should be implied immediately; applying an ice pack on the injured area, elevating the finger above the level of the heart to prevent the pooling of blood in the injured finger, and over-the-counter drugs should be used to alleviate pain and swelling.
There is an additional issue with a mallet finger in children. The cartilage in the finger that regulates bone formation may be impacted by the injury. Without treatment, the child's finger may grow improperly or with stunted growth.
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Splinting: The initial course of treatment for a mallet finger is splinting. Until the tendon recovers, the fingertip must remain straight in the splint. The mallet finger is immobilized for at least six weeks. For the following two weeks, the splint should only be used at night. During those two weeks, the patient can be instructed to wear the splint for other high-risk activities like manual labor or sports. Plastic stack splints are the most widely used type of splint.
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Surgery: For complicated mallet finger injuries, surgery is usually advised. Surgery is indicated in cases where the joints are not properly aligned, and a tendon graft from another part of your body is necessary for the tendon repair. Open surgery involves cutting the skin to expose the tendon, or it can be performed via a needle puncture.
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Exercises: The doctor could suggest exercising to prevent stiffening of the middle joint in the splinted finger. The exercise involves holding the hand to support the middle part on each side and bending the joint while keeping the splint part straight. This exercise is to be done for ten minutes at least four to five times a day.
How Can Mallet Finger Be Prevented?
Mallet finger injuries can be prevented by exercising caution when participating in sports that involve a hard ball. But these accidents that cause injuries are frequent and not always avoidable.
Conclusion:
Mallet finger recovery typically takes eight weeks. If the patient does not stick to the advised splinting practice, it can take longer. Most people recover quickly. Some patients initially lose some of their ability to straighten the end of their fingers. The finger may be painful, red, and swollen. However, these issues typically go away after three to four months. The affected joint may occasionally have a small bump on top, but it is rarely uncomfortable and has no effect on how well the finger works.
