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. 2014 Jun;9(2):138-44.
doi: 10.1007/s11552-014-9609-y.

Current concepts: mallet finger

Sreenivasa R Alla  1 , Nicole D Deal  1 , Ian J Dempsey  1
Affiliations

Current concepts: mallet finger

Sreenivasa R Alla et al. Hand (N Y). 2014 Jun.

Abstract

Loss of the extensor mechanism at the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint leads to mallet finger also known as baseball finger or drop finger. This can be secondary to tendon substance disruption or to a bony avulsion. Soft tissue mallet finger is the result of a rupture of the extensor tendon in Zone 1, and a bony mallet finger is the result of an avulsion of the extensor tendon from the distal phalanx with a small fragment of bone attached to the avulsed tendon. Mallet finger leads to an imbalance in the distribution of the extensor force between the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) and DIP joints. If left untreated, mallet finger leads to a swan neck deformity from PIP joint hyper extension and DIP joint flexion. Most mallet finger injuries can be managed non-surgically, but occasionally surgery is recommended for either an acute or a chronic mallet finger or for salvage of failed prior treatment.

Keywords: Bony mallet finger; Mallet finger; Soft tissue mallet finger.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Lateral of small finger bony mallet with minimally displaced small osseous fragment
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Assorted splints utilized for non-operative treatment of mallet finger
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Non-operative treatment using a plastic stack splint of a bony mallet at day after injury (a) and 6 weeks (b)
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Lateral and oblique radiographs of a small finger bony mallet pre-operatively (a, b), post-operatively (c, d), and approximately 8 weeks post-op demonstrating bony union. K-wires were removed at 5 weeks (e, f). The procedure was performed using the extension block technique with 0.45 mm k-wires
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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