A lot of mallet finger injuries happen at home, not on a ball field. Someone’s making the bed, catches a fingertip on the mattress, and feels a quick sting. By the next morning, the end of that finger is bent down and won’t come back up. Since it doesn’t hurt much, plenty of people figure it’ll sort itself out and leave it for a few weeks.
What Happened to the Finger
The tendon that straightens your fingertip is pretty thin, and it hooks onto the very last bone in the finger. A sudden bend at the tip can stretch it, tear it, or rip it off the bone. Every so often, a tiny piece of bone comes off along with it. Either way, the tip can’t lift up anymore, and it hangs down like a little hammer. That’s where the name comes from.
Signs of mallet finger include:
- A fingertip that bends down and won’t straighten by itself
- Swelling and soreness at the last knuckle
- Bruising on the back of the finger
- Being able to push the tip straight with your other hand, but it falls back down
We’ll usually want an X-ray to see if a piece of bone broke off. That can change the plan.
The Splint Does Most of the Work
Most mallet fingers heal without surgery. The key is a splint that holds the tip of the finger straight, all day and all night, for about six to eight weeks. This lets the tendon heal in the right spot.
This is where people get tripped up. That tip can’t bend at all until the tendon has healed, not even for a few seconds while you wash your hands. One slip can set the healing back and mean more weeks in the splint. We’ll fit yours carefully and practice changing it with you, keeping the finger pressed flat on a table so it never drops.
We’ll also check your skin at follow-up visits. Wearing a splint around the clock can make the skin sore or soggy if it isn’t cared for.
After the Splint Comes Off
Once the tendon has healed, you’ll slowly start bending the finger again. It’s usually stiff at first. Hand therapy helps you get that motion back with gentle exercises that don’t strain the tendon. You may keep wearing the splint at night for a few more weeks while you build back up.
We’ll let you know when it’s safe to grip harder, lift things, or play sports again. Going too fast can cause the tip to droop again.
When Surgery Might Come Up
Surgery is rare. It’s usually only needed if a large piece of bone broke off or the joint isn’t lined up right. If that’s the case, we’ll talk through it with you.
If the tip of your finger won’t straighten, come see our team at Modern Medicine of Surprise, AZ. We’ll fit you with a splint and help you get your finger working again.
