Can wearing a mallet finger splint for six to eight weeks help in the healing of a mallet finger injury?

Question

Hello doctor,

My left hand's little finger got injured a week ago while catching a cricket ball. There is no pain, but it is bent, appears swollen, and hurts when I try to straighten it. The doctor said it may never straighten up, and I might need to consult an orthopedic specialist for further evaluation. I am unsure about the precautions I should take and how urgent it is to see an orthopedic specialist. The X-ray indicates an avulsion fracture in the dorsal surface of the distal phalanx of my left hand's little finger. Could you please suggest a remedy and precautions? Do I need to see an orthopedic specialist?

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

You have a condition known as a mallet finger injury, which often occurs in cricket or baseball injuries. Please do not worry; your finger will eventually recover and straighten out. However, the treatment process is relatively lengthy. You will need to wear a mallet finger splint for six to eight weeks, depending on the X-rays. It is crucial not to remove the splint under any circumstances. Yes, you should definitely consult an orthopedic surgeon who will both apply the splint and change it after three weeks.

This professional advice provided by me stands subject to the actual examination of the report and image and is based entirely on inputs provided to me. It should be correlated with clinical findings.

Thanks and regards.