Mallet finger
Editor-In-Chief: Prab R Tumpati, MD
Obesity, Sleep & Internal medicine
Founder, WikiMD Wellnesspedia &
W8MD medical weight loss NYC and sleep center NYC
| Mallet finger | |
|---|---|
| Synonyms | Baseball finger, drop finger |
| Pronounce | N/A |
| Specialty | Orthopedic surgery |
| Symptoms | Inability to extend the distal phalanx of a finger |
| Complications | Swan neck deformity |
| Onset | Sudden, often due to trauma |
| Duration | Can be chronic if untreated |
| Types | N/A |
| Causes | Tendon injury, fracture |
| Risks | Sports injuries, particularly in baseball and basketball |
| Diagnosis | Physical examination, X-ray |
| Differential diagnosis | Jersey finger, Boutonniere deformity |
| Prevention | N/A |
| Treatment | Splinting, surgery |
| Medication | N/A |
| Prognosis | Good with treatment, may result in permanent droop if untreated |
| Frequency | Common in athletes |
| Deaths | N/A |
Mallet Finger is a medical condition that affects the distal interphalangeal joint (DIP) of the finger. This condition is also known as "baseball finger" and is characterized by the inability to straighten the end joint of a finger or thumb.
Causes[edit | edit source]
The primary cause of Mallet Finger is a direct blow to the tip of the finger or thumb. This can occur during sports activities, such as catching a ball, or during everyday activities, such as forcefully tucking in a bedsheet. The force of the blow can cause the tendon that straightens the finger to tear or even pull a piece of bone away with it.
Symptoms[edit | edit source]
The main symptom of Mallet Finger is a drooping end joint on a finger or thumb. Other symptoms may include pain, swelling, and bruising. In some cases, blood may collect beneath the nail, causing it to become detached.
Diagnosis[edit | edit source]
Diagnosis of Mallet Finger is typically made through a physical examination. In some cases, an X-ray may be taken to determine if a piece of bone has been pulled away with the tendon.
Treatment[edit | edit source]
Treatment for Mallet Finger typically involves splinting the affected finger or thumb for a period of time to allow the tendon to heal. In some cases, surgery may be required.
See Also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates, categories Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
