Mallet Finger

1. Least Effective Exercises Slideshow
2. Dehydration Slideshow
3. First Aid Care and Pain Relief for Minor Injuries

Medical Author:

Sachin J Shah, MD

Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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• Mallet Finger Overview
• Mallet Finger Causes
• Mallet Finger Symptoms
• When to Seek Medical Care
• Mallet Finger
• Mallet Finger Treatment
• Mallet Finger Self-Care at Home
• Mallet Finger Medical Treatment
• Mallet Finger Medications
• Mallet Finger Surgery
• Mallet Finger Next Steps
• Mallet Finger Prevention
• Mallet Finger Prognosis
• Mallet Finger Pictures
• Authors and Editors
• Viewer Comments: Mallet Finger - Causes

Mallet finger occurs when the outermost joint of the finger is injured. Mallet finger is a common athletic injury. Basketball and baseball players routinely experience jammed fingers, but the injury can occur because of a crushing accident on the job or even because of a cut finger while working in the kitchen. Any rapid motion that jams the tip of a finger against an object can cause a mallet finger.

With mallet finger, the tendon on the back of the finger (not the palm side) is separated from the muscles it connects, and this most commonly occurs at the index or middle fingers.

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