Mallet finger
Updates to Article Attributes
Mallet finger finger describes describes a type of injury where there is disruption of the extensor mechanism of the finger at the distal interphalangeal joint (DIP).It is the most prevalent finger tendon injury in sport. This can either refer to bony avulsion bony injury or just tendinous injury5.
Clinical presentation
A high proportion of mallet injuries will present as isolated tendon injuries with any associated avulsions fractures known as a mallet fracture 5.
It is characterised by an inability to extend the finger at the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint. There is slight flexion at this joint.
It classically occurs during certain sportssports where the DIP undergoes sudden flexion (extended finger is struck at the tip by an object, e.g. baseball) or a crush injury (slamming a door towards the distal interphalangeal joint) in the extensor direction.
Radiographic features
Plain radiograph
If there is a bony avulsion, a plain film wouldwill classically show a triangular avulsion fragment at the extensor aspect of the distal phalanx at the DIP joint.
Complications
- untreated mallet fingers may progress to a swan neck deformity that will require surgical intervention 3-4
- development of secondary osteoarthritic changes 4
Treatment
Mallet injuries are predominantly conservatively treated via a splint maintaining the DIP joint in fixed hyperextension. It is very rare for any mallet finger injuries to require surgical intervention 5.
See also
- Jersey finger: disruption to flexor mechanism
-<p><strong>Mallet finger</strong> finger describes a type of injury where there is disruption of the extensor mechanism of the finger at the <a href="/articles/distal-interphalangeal-joint">distal interphalangeal joint</a> (DIP). This can either refer to avulsion bony injury or just tendinous injury.</p><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>It is characterised by inability to extend the finger at the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint. There is slight flexion at this joint.</p><p>It classically occurs during certain sports (extended finger is struck at the tip by an object, e.g. baseball) or a crush injury (slamming a door towards the distal interphalangeal joint) in the extensor direction.</p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>Plain radiograph</h5><p>If there is a bony avulsion, plain film would classically show a triangular avulsion fragment at the extensor aspect of the distal phalanx at the DIP joint.</p><h4>Complications</h4><ul>-<li>untreated mallet fingers may progress to a <a href="/articles/swan-neck-deformity">swan neck deformity</a> <sup>3-4</sup>- +<p><strong>Mallet finger</strong> describes a type of injury where there is disruption of the extensor mechanism of the finger at the <a href="/articles/distal-interphalangeal-joint">distal interphalangeal joint</a> (DIP).It is the most prevalent finger tendon injury in sport. This can either refer to bony avulsion injury or just tendinous injury <sup>5</sup>. </p><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>A high proportion of mallet injuries will present as isolated tendon injuries with any associated avulsions fractures known as a mallet fracture <sup>5</sup>.</p><p>It is characterised by an inability to extend the finger at the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint. There is slight flexion at this joint.</p><p>It classically occurs sports where the DIP undergoes sudden flexion (extended finger is struck at the tip by an object, e.g. baseball) or a crush injury (slamming a door towards the distal interphalangeal joint) in the extensor direction.</p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>Plain radiograph</h5><p>If there is a bony avulsion, a plain film will classically show a triangular avulsion fragment at the extensor aspect of the distal phalanx at the DIP joint.</p><h4>Complications</h4><ul>
- +<li>untreated mallet fingers may progress to a <a href="/articles/swan-neck-deformity">swan neck deformity</a> that will require surgical intervention <sup>3-4</sup>
-</ul><h4>See also</h4><ul><li>- +</ul><h4>Treatment</h4><p>Mallet injuries are predominantly conservatively treated via a splint maintaining the DIP joint in fixed hyperextension. It is very rare for any mallet finger injuries to require surgical intervention <sup>5</sup>. </p><h4>See also</h4><ul><li>
References changed:
- 5. Wieschhoff GG, Sheehan SE, Wortman JR et-al. Traumatic Finger Injuries: What the Orthopedic Surgeon Wants to Know. Radiographics. 2016;36 (4): 1106-28. <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1148/rg.2016150216">doi:10.1148/rg.2016150216</a> - <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27399238">Pubmed citation</a><span class="auto"></span>
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