Skip to main content
 
 

Mallet Finger Injury

 

What is a Mallet Finger Injury?

Mallet finger, also known as drop finger or baseball finger, is a condition in which you are unable to completely straighten your finger and may find it droops at the top. It occurs when an injury happens to the tendon that straightens the tip of your finger. 

Symptoms of a Mallet Finger Injury

After the pain of the initial injury, you may experience any of the following symptoms:

  • Swelling
  • Bruising
  • Redness
  • Inability to straighten your fingertip.
  • Tenderness
  • Detached fingernail.
  • Redness under fingernail bed.

Causes of a Mallet Finger Injury

Mallet finger frequently occurs in people who partake in sports such as baseball, basketball, or football when you try to catch a hard ball and it hits your extended fingertip. It can also occur when performing household activities, such as hitting the tip of a finger on a door or wall. 

Diagnosis and Treatment for a Mallet Finger Injury

Both immediate and long-term treatment is essential to proper healing. Immediately after injury, you should do the following:

  • Cover your finger with an ice pack.
  • Hold your finger above your heart to reduce pain and swelling.
  • Take over the counter medications, if needed.
  • Consult your healthcare provider right away.

After your provider performs an X-ray scan of the finger, they may put your fingertip into a splint for a minimum of six weeks while your tendon heals. Your provider will provide details on keeping your finger clean during the healing process.

Although it is rare, your provider may need to surgically insert a small pin into your ginger to hold the joint straight while it heals. Most complications result from inadequate after treatment that doesn’t completely immobilize your finger. In most cases, even after 8-12 weeks of a splint, it may take another 3-4 months before your finger heals fully.