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Mallet Finger

Mallet finger (also called baseball finger or drop finger) is a bent fingertip that cannot 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 trying to catch a ball and the 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.

Last Revised: November 3, 2010

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine & David Messenger, MD

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