How long does a mallet fracture take to heal?

Recovery. It should take 6 to 8 weeks for your finger to heal, after which time you’ll be able to use it again. You may be advised to continue to only wear the splint at night for up to 4 more weeks. In some cases, you may only need to see a specialist once, as a hand physiotherapist may be able to take over your care.

How is a mallet fracture treated?

Nonsurgical Treatment Most mallet finger injuries are treated with splinting. A splint holds the fingertip straight (in extension) until it heals. There are several types of splints used to treat mallet finger, many of them fabricated by hand therapists.

What happens if you leave a mallet finger untreated?

If left untreated, mallet finger leads to a swan neck deformity from PIP joint hyper extension and DIP joint flexion. Most mallet finger injuries can be managed non-surgically, but occasionally surgery is recommended for either an acute or a chronic mallet finger or for salvage of failed prior treatment.

Can a mallet finger heal on its own?

If you have a mallet finger, it needs to be treated; it will not heal on its own. You should consult with your doctor, and possibly a hand surgeon.

When is surgery needed for mallet finger?

Surgery for mallet finger is rare. But if your joint is misaligned, your finger is broken or there are bone fragments that result in an unstable joint, your injury is considered “complex” and may need surgery.

How long should I keep a splint on mallet finger?

If your tendon is only stretched, not torn, it should heal in 4 to 6 weeks if you wear a splint all the time. If your tendon is torn or pulled off the bone, it should heal in 6 to 8 weeks of wearing a splint all the time. After that, you will need to wear your splint for another 3 to 4 weeks, at night only.

What is the fastest way to heal mallet finger?

Wearing a splint on your finger to keep it straight is the most common treatment for mallet finger. You may need to wear a splint for different lengths of time. If your tendon is only stretched, not torn, it should heal in 4 to 6 weeks if you wear a splint all the time.

Is mallet finger an emergency?

Commonly referred to as mallet finger, drop finger, or baseball finger, terminal extensor tendon injuries are a common presentation to the emergency department. Providers need to be advised of evidence-based management of these extensor tendon injuries in order to prevent decreased function and permanent deformity.

What splint is best for mallet finger?

There are many splints on the market, but I have found the best way is an aluminum splint to keep the tip joint straight. Specifically, the tip of the finger should be kept straight but to allow free PIP and MP motions.

Is mallet finger serious?

Mallet finger is a painful injury with a simple treatment. In most cases, you should be back to normal after three to four months. Contact your healthcare provider as soon as you’re hurt. Sometimes people assume the injury isn’t serious and hesitate to get checked out.

Is mallet finger surgery successful?

Successful outcomes of surgical treatment for acute mallet finger averaged about 85 percent in 3 studies (60 pooled digits) and about 73 percent in 5 studies of chronic or recurrent mallet finger.

Can I take my splint off to sleep?

Do not take your splint or cast off unless instructed to do so by your therapist. There are some basic principles of sleep hygiene that can be useful to try to improve your quality of sleep: Try to avoid screens one hour before bedtime.

How do I know if mallet finger is healed?

If swelling is present after taking off a splint or your finger is still deformed, it is still injured and you may even need to get another x-ray. Once the pain subsides and your finger returns back to a normal resting position (not bent), it’s healed and ready to go.

How do you rehab a mallet finger?

Common rehab exercises for a Mallet Finger injury include: Hold for 5-10 seconds. Repeat 10 times. Object pick-up: Practice picking up small objects such as coins, buttons or marbles with the injured fingers and your thumb. Repeat 10 times.

Is mallet finger permanent?

A Word From Verywell. A mallet finger is more than just a typical jammed finger. Without proper treatment, permanent deformity can be the result. Fortunately, most people can heal this injury with the proper use of a simple splint.

What are 3 things you should not do while splinting?

Splint and skin care Never stick items under your splint to scratch the skin. Do not use oils or lotions near your splint. If the skin becomes red or sore around the edge of the splint, you may pad the edges with a soft material, such as moleskin, or use tape to cover the edges.

How do I know if my mallet finger is healed?

How do I know my mallet finger is healed?

When it is time for your splint to come off, your provider will examine how well your finger has healed. Swelling in your finger when you are no longer wearing the splint may be a sign that the tendon has not healed yet. You may need another x-ray of your finger.

When do you need surgery for a mallet finger?

Can a mallet finger heal in 6 weeks?

What happens if mallet finger goes untreated?

What happens if mallet finger goes untreated? If you don’t treat your mallet finger injury, your finger could become stiff and even unbendable. You may develop a problem where your finger has a swan’s neck shape. If your young child has mallet finger and doesn’t get treatment, their finger may not grow properly.

The middle joint of the finger is left free so you can continue to move it to prevent any stiffness developing. Surgery is only needed if you also have a broken finger, the skin is broken, or in rare cases where mallet finger fails to heal. How to keep your finger clean. You must keep your splinted finger clean and dry at all times.

When is surgery indicated for mallet finger?

Surgery is controversial in closed acute mallet finger but is indicated in all open injuries and in injuries with a large bony mallet fragment with subluxation of the DIP joint . Fractures involving 30–50 % of the joint surface have been described as unstable and require surgery [ 17 , 51 ].

Is surgery needed for mallet finger?

This is called bony mallet finger. If the bone fragment is large enough, it may require surgical treatment to prevent joint problems from developing. 1  Surgery may also be needed in situations where the injury is left untreated for more than four to six weeks and problem called a swan-neck deformity develops.