However, any action that bends the joint further than it is meant to bend can cause mallet finger. It’s important to fully comply with the splinting routine.

Make sure you are splinted correctly for the type of mallet finger that you have. While both conditions can cause pain, each has unique, but similar…, Ever swung a hammer at a nail and smashed your finger instead? Top subscription boxes – right to your door, © 1996-2020, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

You could rip the tendon even more, which could cause further injuries. Your doctor will likely see you a week after the splint is put on to assess how the finger is healing. There are plastic splints and cast splints, and then there are more aluminum ones that have a little bit of foam on the inside. Should I rub it? Dr. Catania is a board certified Family Medicine Physician in Pennsylvania. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Here's what left brain vs. right brain means…. Surgery is generally recommended for complex mallet finger injuries. One of the most important and often confusing topics regarding a mallet finger, a common hand injury, is how to apply and remove your mallet finger splint without bending your finger. Page last reviewed: 9 March 2020 Learn about the different types of avulsion fractures and the best ways to treat them. Or the finger may develop a swan neck deformity, where the joint bends the wrong way.

These include injuries where: Surgery may be open, where the skin is cut to expose the tendon, or done with a needle puncture (percutaneous). Keep your finger straight at all times. If a bone fragment is also detached, it’s called an avulsion fracture. URL of this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000538.htm. DO NOT take more than the amount recommended on the bottle or by your provider. You can take an over-the-counter painkiller, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, to help relieve the pain. There's a problem loading this menu right now. Duplication for commercial use must be authorized in writing by ADAM Health Solutions. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e6\/Splint-Trigger-Finger-Step-13-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Splint-Trigger-Finger-Step-13-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e6\/Splint-Trigger-Finger-Step-13-Version-2.jpg\/aid137848-v4-728px-Splint-Trigger-Finger-Step-13-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"