Roanoke
Salem
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QUESTION: I was playing basketball last week when the ball hit the tip of my finger. I had immediate pain and could not straighten the end of my finger. It swelled a little but the pain went away rather quickly, yet I still cannot straighten the end of my finger. What did I do? ANSWER: The injury you describe is consistent with a mallet finger. The blow to the finger causes the tendon that straightens (extends) your finger to be pulled off. The tendon is pulled off (avulsed) either with or without a piece of bone. Uncommonly, the piece of bone that comes with the tendon can involve a portion of the joint surface and result in significant disability if not fixed. Most commonly, this injury requires a finger splint for 6-10 weeks to allow the tendon, with or without bone, to heal. This usually results in a finger that can be straightened but not bent fully due to stiffness. Rarely is surgery required initially. Occasionally, the tendon does not heal with the splint and surgery may be necessary. If this occurs, you should see your physician within the next day or so after the injury. The sooner a splint is applied or other needed treatment given, the more likely a satisfactory outcome will occur. |
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WRITTEN BY: Brent M. Johnson, M. D. |
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