Mallet Finger

Mallet Finger

Ø  Mallet finger is a common athletic injury.

Ø  Basketball and baseball players routinely experience jammed fingers, but the injury can occur because of a crushing accident on the job, or even because of a cut finger while working in the kitchen.

Ø  Any rapid motion that jams the tip of a finger against an object can cause a mallet finger.

Ø  This most commonly occurs at the index or middle fingers.

Causes

Mallet finger occurs when the outermost (end) joint of the finger is injured. With mallet finger, the tendon on the back of the finger (not the palm side) is separated from the joint it connects. Three types of injuries commonly occur:

Ø  The tendon is damaged, but no fractures (bone cracks or breaks) are present.

Ø  The tendon ruptures with a small fracture caused by the force of the injury.

Ø  The tendon ruptures with a large fracture.

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/mallet_finger/article_em.htm

Symptoms

If you have mallet finger, you may experience

·                     Pain at the site of your injury

·                     Swelling

·                     Bruising after a few hours after the injury

·                     Inability to straighten your injured finger

http://www.physiotherapynotes.com/2011/04/physiotherapy-for-mallet-finger.html

Doctor Examination

A mallet finger injury requires medical treatment to ensure the finger regains as much function as possible. Most doctors recommend seeking treatment within a week of injury. However, there have been cases in which treatment was delayed for as long as a month after injury and full healing was still achieved.

Physical Examination

After discussing your medical history and symptoms, your doctor will examine your finger or thumb. During the examination, your doctor will hold the affected finger and ask you to straighten it on your own. This is called the mallet finger test.

During a mallet finger test, your doctor determines whether you can straighten your fingertip without assistance.

X-rays

Your doctor will most likely order x-rays of the injury. If a fragment of the distal phalanx was pulled away when the tendon ruptured, or if there is a larger fracture of the bone, it will appear in an x-ray. An x-ray will also show whether the injury pulled the bones of the joint out of alignment.

This x-ray shows that a piece of the distal phalanx bone broke away with the tendon.

http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00018

What you can do
Immediately apply an ice pack wrapped in towel for 20 minutes at a time and elevate your limb above the level of your heart. Seek medical attention as mallet finger does not tend to correct itself.

Physiotherapy Treatment Options for Mallet Finger

Your finger will be put in a splint to avoid movement and allow healing for a few weeks. You will be advised to wear the splint always during your recovery.

Physiotherapy treatments may include

Ø  Cold therapy

Ø  Recommend splinting of the injured finger

Ø  Stretching

Ø  Physiotherapy exercises

Ø  Passive and active range of motion exercises

Ø  Strengthening exercises

Ø  General conditioning exercises

Ø  Patient education

Ø  Return to activity rehabilitation program

The type of physiotherapy treatments that you will receive depends on your specific problems and rehab goals. Your physiotherapist will determine the appropriate treatments that you will receive. Your therapist may also provide you with home treatment program to self-manage your symptoms. In addition, your PT will provide you with a home exercise program that you can do at home when your splint has already been removed.

http://www.physiotherapynotes.com/2011/04/physiotherapy-for-mallet-finger.html

Physiotherapy Exercises For Mallet Finger

When the tip of the finger is bent and straightening it with own efforts becomes extremely painful and difficult, hit is known as Mallet Finger. Pain and swelling are the most common signs occurring at the bone joint of the finger tip. Other hand may be used to straighten the finger. Hence, it is termed as Mallet Finger Deformity.

The general treatment is done by splinting the fracture for about 6 weeks. But the physiotherapy methods are followed to regain the normal functionality of the offending finger. Skin problems are also commonly seen when splinted for longer time. Skin should also be monitored. replace splint or consult your physician if any sign of skin problem arise.

The prime motive of a rehabilitation plan after the treatment is to keep the mobility in other joint intact and prevent stiffness. The physical therapy can be essential even after surgery. But it should be thought only after the surgical pin is removed.A physical or an occupational therapist may be consulted. They would teach exercises to be performed at home and help reduce the stiffness in other joints. The exercises to strengthen the finger and increase the flexibility must be started once the mallet finger is healed completely.

Mallet Finger Exercises

o    Passive range of motion

Try to bend the injured finger gently. If the discomfort persists, assist your injured joint with the other hand but apply very gentle pressure. Try to straighten it. Repeat it slowly for 10 times. Hold at each position for 5 seconds. This can be done for 3-5 times a day.

o    Fist making

Make a fist with your hand. If fist do not occur, assist it in bending with the other hand. Do it very gently. Hold at each position for about 5-10 minutes. Repeat this procedure 10 times.

o    Object pick-up

Try to pick small objects (like pins, coins, marbles or buttons) with a finger and thumb.

o    Finger extension

Keep your palm flat with the fingers straightened out on the table. At one time, try to lift only one finger. Hold each finger at the lifted position for 5 seconds. Then rest it down. Perform the same for each of the 5 fingers. It can be repeated 10 times a day.

o    Grip strengthening

Take a rubber ball. Squeeze it and hold for 5 seconds. Do it in 3 sets of 10 balls.

http://orthopedics.ygoy.com/2010/01/15/physiotherapy-exercises-for-mallet-finger/