Mallet finger – how to treat it

Mallet finger – also known as drop finger or baseball finger – is a sports injury that damages the tendon that helps straighten the end of your finger.

Without proper treatment this can result in a permanently bent fingertip that’s noticeable and can be painful.

Mallet finger can affect your work or stop you from playing sports. It’s important to seek help straight away for recovery, and to stop further problems.

What are the symptoms of mallet finger?

Your affected finger will probably have been injured by sport or during a task, such as household chores, before symptoms appear.

Your fingertip will be in a bent position, even when you try to straighten it. It may also be:

• painful
• tender
• swollen
• bruised.

Sometimes there may be redness under your nail where blood has collected, or your fingernail may be detached, which may mean you’ve broken a bone.

What causes it and who’s affected?

Mallet finger is usually caused by a sports-related injury, such as catching a ball – when your fingertip strikes the hard surface – hence the nickname ‘baseball finger’.

It can also be caused by any trauma where the small joint is bent with force, such as stubbing it while making the bed, or jamming it in the door.

Mallet finger differs from something called trigger finger, which is caused by overusing the finger, rather than injuring it.

There is some evidence to suggest it’s most common in young and middle-aged men – as well as older women.

Athletes and sports players are at greater risk of mallet finger, especially during hard ball games, such as cricket, netball, football, baseball, rounders, or basketball.

When to see a doctor and diagnosis

If you can’t straighten your finger and it’s painful, swollen, bleeding, or could be infected, see your doctor.

They can diagnose mallet finger by examining it and doing the mallet finger test – holding the affected finger while asking you to try and straighten it.

You may also need an X-ray to rule out a fracture (broken bone).

Once diagnosed, treatment should begin straight away.

What is the treatment?

Getting medical advice and treatment can speed up your recovery time – and reduce the risk of complications, such as a misshapen or stiff finger.

Most cases of mallet finger will require non-surgical treatment. This includes taking painkillers to help with pain relief, and also wearing a special splint to keep your finger straight, and protect it while the damaged joint heals.

You’ll need to wear this splint for around 6–8 weeks, keeping it clean and dry – and not bending or straightening it during this time.

Your doctor will check how well your finger has healed and may recommend keeping it in the splint for longer. Or you may only need to wear it at night and during sport or exercise, when you’re ready to get back into it.

It can take months before your finger is fully better. If it doesn’t heal, there’s a possibility you may need surgery to correct it, but this is rare.

Physical therapy will usually be recommended, which is important in ensuring your finger is fully recovered and usable again.

This involves regular gentle exercises to slowly build up strength and mobility, without aggravating the injury by over-stretching the finger.

Self-care tips

If you’re waiting to see a doctor about mallet finger, there are things you can do to relieve the pain and help it heal.

Try:

• keeping your hand raised (above heart level) to reduce immediate swelling
• taking painkillers
• using ice packs to aid swelling
• removing jewelry, such as rings.

Do not:

• try exercising your finger yourself – you could make it worse or slow down recovery
• use your finger – this includes bending it, which could stop it from healing
• bandage your fingers together – a splint should only go on the tip of your finger so that you can still bend uninjured joints.