How do you fix a mallet finger?
Wearing a splint on your finger to keep it straight is the most common treatment for mallet finger. You may need to wear a splint for different lengths of time. If your tendon is only stretched, not torn, it should heal in 4 to 6 weeks if you wear a splint all the time.
How do you know if you have a mallet finger?
If you have mallet finger, you’re unable to straighten your finger, it droops at the tip, is painful and looks bruised and/or swollen. Mallet finger is an injury that frequently occurs in sports such as baseball, basketball or football when you try to catch a hard ball and it hits your extended fingertip.
Is mallet finger permanent?
A Word From Verywell. A mallet finger is more than just a typical jammed finger. Without proper treatment, permanent deformity can be the result. Fortunately, most people can heal this injury with the proper use of a simple splint.
What causes a mallet finger?
In a mallet injury, when an object hits the tip of the finger or thumb, the force of the blow tears the extensor tendon. Occasionally, a minor force such as tucking in a bed sheet will cause a mallet finger.
Do I need to go to the doctor for mallet finger?
It’s a good idea to see a doctor as soon as you can. Mallet finger injuries are usually treated without surgery, unless the injury is chronic. Even if you don’t have much pain and your hand still works, it’s best to get treatment as soon as possible.
What happens to an untreated mallet finger?
If a mallet finger is left untreated, your finger can become stiff. Or the finger may develop a swan neck deformity, where the joint bends the wrong way. A mallet finger in children involves an additional concern. The injury may affect the cartilage in the finger that controls bone growth.
Should I see a doctor for mallet finger?
Should you see a doctor for mallet finger?
What is a mallet finger and how does it occur?
Mallet finger occurs when the outermost (end) joint of the finger is injured. With mallet finger, the tendon on the back of the finger (not the palm side) is separated from the joint it connects.
How can you treat a mallet finger?
Mallet Finger Self-Care at Home If the finger is cut, clean the cut under running water for a few minutes. Then wrap the finger with clean gauze or a clean cloth. Apply ice to the injured finger joint to reduce swelling and tenderness. Wrap ice in a towel. Do not apply ice directly to your skin. Take care not to injure the finger even more.
How to know if mallet finger is healed?
Also to know is, how would you know if mallet finger is healed healed? Swelling in your finger when you are no longer wearing the splint may be a sign that the tendon has not healed yet. You may need another x-ray of your finger. If your finger has not healed at the end of treatment, your provider may recommend another 4 weeks of wearing the splint.
What is included in the initial treatment of mallet finger?
Splinting is the first-line treatment for a mallet finger. The goal is to keep the fingertip straight in the splint until the tendon heals. Usually, your mallet finger will stay in a splint for at least six weeks.