Mallet finger (also called baseball finger or drop finger) is a bent fingertip that can't be straightened. It is caused by a ruptured tendon at the base of the finger joint near the fingertip that occurs when a finger is bent with force, such as when you try to catch a ball and your fingertip is struck by the ball.
Symptoms of mallet finger include a:
- Bent fingertip that can't be straightened.
- Painful and swollen fingertip.
Treatment includes splinting the injured finger in a straight position for several weeks.
Current as of:
May 1, 2017
Author:
Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine & Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine & David Messenger, BSc, MD, FRCPC, FCCP - Emergency Medicine, Critical Care Medicine