A mallet finger type of injury occurs in the tendons at the tip of the fingers, causing the finger to become permanently bent. Broken fingers, sprains, or certain chronic conditions, such as arthritis, are common causes for finger injury. After trauma, injury may become noticeable if the individual is unable to straighten the tip of the finger.
The term mallet finger is used to describe an injury to the extensor tendon found on the back of the finger. The role of the extensor tendon is to straighten the fingers. This tendon functions through various attachments located on the back of each finger and even one past the last knuckle which allows the last finger joint to straighten. When this particular tendon becomes injured, it fails to extend the last knuckle and, as a result, the joint remains bent.
At the time of injury, the pain experienced from a mallet finger injury can be quite significant but may usually subside within a short time span. This type of injury can be noticeably obvious to diagnose as the last joint of the finger will be bent down and, although the joint is capable to being straightened with manual help, the individual will be unable to fully extend the tip of the finger on their own. Because people with a mallet finger injury regularly experience minor pain, this type of injury can many times be undiagnosed.
Treatment for a mallet finger injury mainly involves using a simple splint. Finger splints are used in order to protect fingers and/or to assist in aligning the joints of the fingers that may have been affected by an injury or a chronic condition like arthritis. In more serious cases, the tendon might pull off a small fragment of the bone from the finger bone. If the fragment is considerable in size, surgical treatment might be required to avoid further joint problems.
By Dr. Alex Jimenez
Professional Scope of Practice *
The information herein on "Mallet Finger Injury" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.
Blog Information & Scope Discussions
Our information scope is limited to Chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somatovisceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.
We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.*
Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.
We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, or contact us at 915-850-0900.
We are here to help you and your family.
Blessings
Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN*, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*
email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com
Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License # TX5807, New Mexico DC License # NM-DC2182
Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN*) in Florida
Florida License RN License # RN9617241 (Control No. 3558029)
License Compact Status: Multi-State License: Authorized to Practice in 40 States*
Presently Matriculated: ICHS: MSN* FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner Program)
Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN* CIFM*, IFMCP*, ATN*, CCST
My Digital Business Card
Stress on the lower back during pregnancy often leads to back (upper, middle, lower), sciatica,… Read More
Can melatonin help many individuals dealing with sleep issues and help them stay asleep longer… Read More
For older individuals looking for a workout that can help improve overall fitness, can kettlebell… Read More
Can choosing the right pillow help many individuals with neck pain get a full night's… Read More
What is the recommended way to choose a mattress for individuals with back pain? … Read More
Can non-surgical treatments help individuals with piriformis syndrome reduce referred sciatica pain and help restore… Read More