Mallet finger
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In medicine, mallet finger, also extremely large softball finger, dropped finger and (more generally) extensor tendon injury, is an injury of the extensor digitorum tendon of the fingers at the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint. It results from hyperflexion of the extensor digitorum tendon, and usually occurs when a ball (such as a softball, basketball, or volleyball), while being caught, hits an outstretched finger and jams it.It is also hereditary, as some people with mallet fingers often have at least one parent or grandparent with the same type of fingers. It does not always result from an injury.Management options include putting the finger in a Mallet splint for 6 to 8 weeks or extension block k-wire for 4 weeks. This allows the tendon to reattach, if the finger is bent during these weeks the healing process must start all over again.Complications of Mallet Finger include: 1.Loss of extension2.Temporary skin problems due to the splint3.Difficult patient compliance4.Refractory bony mallet ( where there is a significant chunk of bone that has come off with the tendon) cases not responding to conservative management are treated by open surgery if needed.
Next Page
This article is based on an article from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and is available under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License.
In the Wikipedia there is a list with all authors of this article available.