Mallet finger
Revision as of 23:49, 7 July 2016 by Neil.m.young (talk | contribs) (Text replacement - "==Treatment==" to "==Management==")
Background
- Rupture of extensor tendon in area of distal phalanx distal to DIP joint
- May be accompanied by avulsion fracture
- Caused by forced flexion of the DIP joint
Clinical Features
- Results in DIP joint flexed 40'
- Untreated leads to swan neck deformity
- Flexed DIP
- Hyperextended PIP
Differential Diagnosis
Hand and finger injuries
- Distal finger
- Other finger/thumb
- Boutonniere deformity
- Mallet finger
- Jammed finger
- Jersey finger
- Trigger finger
- Ring avulsion injury
- De Quervain tenosynovitis
- Infiltrative tenosynovitis
- Metacarpophalangeal ulnar ligament rupture (Gamekeeper's thumb)
- Hand
- Wrist
- Drummer's wrist
- Ganglion cyst
- Lunotriquetral ligament instability
- Scaphoid fracture
- Extensor digitorum tenosynovitis
- Compressive neuropathy ("bracelet syndrome")
- Intersection syndrome
- Snapping Extensor Carpi Ulnaris
- Vaughn Jackson syndrome
- General
Diagnosis
The injured digit will be often held in flexion with an inability to extend. The diagnosis is clinical although an avulsion fracture should also be ruled out.
Management
- Splint DIP joint in continuous slight hyperextension x 6wk
- Splinting of the PIP joint is not necessary[1]
- Give an extra splint
- Hand surgery followup in 7-10 days
See Also
References
- ↑ Katzman B et al. Immobilization of the mallet finger: effects of the extensor tendon. J Hand Surg Br. 1992; 24(1):80-84