Causes of Mallet Finger
Mallet finger is typically a sports-related injury. You might experience this condition if you've caught a hard-thrown pass in basketball or caught a baseball with your bare hand. When the ball hits your extended fingertips, the impact can damage the tendons. There are other possible causes or situations that may lead to mallet finger, but these are some of the commonly reported incidents.
Symptoms
- Pain in finger
- Swelling around top of finger
- Redness
- Drooping of the finger
- Difficult extending finger
Treatment of Mallet Finger with Dr. Morse
To diagnose your condition, Dr. Morse would conduct an examination and check for indications of mallet finger. X-rays may be needed to see if the fingertip bones have been fractured. To reduce the severity of symptoms, he may recommend a pain medication and/or application of ice to the affected area. Typical treatments involve a splint that keeps the finger extended for 6-8 weeks or more. Surgery is necessary in cases of large fractures.
