Mallet Finger
Treatment for Mallet Finger in Cincinnati
Mallet finger, sometimes referred to as “baseball finger,” is a common injury that can prevent the finger or thumb from bending on its own. This type of finger injury requires prompt treatment in order to heal properly and preserve finger function. At the Clifton Hand Surgery Center, under the Beacon Orthopaedics umbrella in Cincinnati, our hand and wrist specialists can diagnose and treat mallet finger to keep patients’ hands working as they should.
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What is Mallet Finger?
Mallet finger is often called “baseball finger” because this injury commonly happens to baseball fingers when a ball strikes and “jams” the tip of a finger or thumb. This causes a tear or excessive bending to the tendon at the back of the finger or thumb, preventing the tip of that digit from bending on its own.
Mallet finger may also accompany an avulsion injury, where the extensor tendon is separated from the finger and small pieces of bone pull away with the tendon.1
Symptoms of Mallet Finger
When a person has a mallet finger injury, the tip of the damaged finger droops downward and cannot be straightened on its own. Other symptoms of mallet finger include:
- Pain
- Inflammation
- Bruising
- Blood under the nail
- Nail detachment2
Treatment for Mallet Finger
Non-Surgical Treatment
At Beacon Orthopaedics, we always provide the least invasive treatment possible to alleviate a patient’s symptoms. In the case of mallet finger, splinting and physical therapy are often an effective treatment.
Surgery for Mallet Finger
If large bone fragments have broken off at the time of a mallet finger injury or if the injured joint is misaligned, we may recommend surgery. During mallet finger surgery, the injured joint is stabilized with wires or screws and the damaged tendon is replaced or repaired. In some cases, the injured joint of the finger may be fused to promote stability.
Contact Beacon Orthopaedics
Mallet finger is a common injury that requires specialized treatment to heal properly. If you have suffered a mallet finger injury, the experts at Beacon Orthopaedics can help alleviate your pain and restore function to your hand. Contact us to schedule a consultation with a hand and wrist specialist.
1 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Mallet Finger (Baseball Finger). Available: https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases–conditions/mallet-finger-baseball-finger/. Accessed December 10, 2021.
2 American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Mallet Finger. Available: https://www.assh.org/handcare/condition/mallet-finger. Accessed December 10, 2021.