Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Mallet Finger and Jersey Finger

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Musculoskeletal Sports and Spine Disorders

  • 521 Accesses

Abstract

Mallet finger is the disruption of extension at the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint secondary to an extensor tendon injury or bony avulsion of its insertion site on the distal phalanx. The patient will present with an inability to fully extend the distal phalanx. An X-ray should be obtained to assess for bony avulsions and volar subluxation. Conservative management with full-time splinting is most common. Surgical intervention is necessary if the bony avulsion involves >40% of the articular surface or volar subluxation is present.

Jersey finger is the disruption of DIP joint flexion secondary to a flexor tendon injury or bony avulsion of its insertion site on the distal phalanx. The patient will present with inability to fully flex the distal phalanx. Management differs from that of mallet finger as surgical management is almost always required.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. McMurty JT, Isaacs J. Extensor tendons injuries. Clin Sports Med. 2015;34(1):167–80. doi:10.1016/j.csm.2014.09.005.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Alla SR, Deal ND, Dempsey IJ. Current concepts: mallet finger. Hand (NY). 2014;9(2):138–44. doi:10.1007/s11552-014-9609-y.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Handoll HG, Vaghela MV. Interventions for treating mallet finger injuries. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004;(3):CD004574.doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD004574.pub2.

  4. Altan E, Alp NB, Baser R, Yalcin L. Soft-tissue mallet injuries: a comparison of early and delayed treatment. J Hand Surg. 2014;39(10):1982–5. doi:10.1016/j.jhsa.2014.06.140.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Gruber JS, Bot AG, Ring D. A prospective randomized controlled trial comparing night splinting with no splinting after treatment of mallet finger. Hand. 2014;9:145–50. doi:10.1007/s11552-013-9600-z.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Devan D. A novel way of treating mallet finger injuries. J Hand Ther. 2014;27:325–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Freilich AM. Evaluation and treatment of jersey finger and pulley injuries in athletes. Clin Sports Med. 2015;34(1):151–66. doi:10.1016/j.csm.2014.09.001.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Murphy BA, Mass DP. Zone I flexor tendon injuries. Hand Clin. 2005;21:167–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Chanel L, Grolleau JL, Lauwers F, Andre A. Z-plasty lengthening of the flexor digitorum profundus at the wrist (zone 5) for the treatment of jersey finger anatomical study and evaluation of advancement obtained. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2014;67:e189–94. doi:10.1016/j.bjps.2014.04.025.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Huq S, George S, Boyce DE. Zone 1 flexor tendon injuries: a review of the current treatment options for acute injuries. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2013;66(8):1023–31. doi:10.1016/j.bjps.2013.04.026.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Pritsch T, Sammer DM. Tenodesis for restoration of distal interphalangeal joint flexion in unrepairable flexor digitorum profundus injuries. J Hand Surg. 2014;39(1):19–23. doi:10.1016/j.jhsa.2013.10.009.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mount Sinai Hospital, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, New York, NY, USA

    Fairen Walker-McCarter MD

  2. Elmhurst Hospital Center, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Elmhurst, NY, USA

    Jeffery Fine MD

Authors
  1. Fairen Walker-McCarter MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jeffery Fine MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fairen Walker-McCarter MD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedics, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA

    Stuart B. Kahn

  2. Interventional Pain Management, San Antonio, Texas, USA

    Rachel Yinfei Xu

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Walker-McCarter, F., Fine, J. (2017). Mallet Finger and Jersey Finger. In: Kahn, S., Xu, R. (eds) Musculoskeletal Sports and Spine Disorders. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-50512-1_32

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-50512-1_32

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-50510-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-50512-1

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation