Mallet Finger Treatment 

FINALLY. No one ever talks about the Tendon-related mallet finger but this video explains it very well - with the correct procedure in handling it.

Your video has been very helpful. I hope you continue to put out content.

This is a very helpful video! I will show it to my doctor and hand therapists. Thanks a lot for sharing and caring!

I just had surgery, and it was the most painful thing I've gone through. It was a just a tendon mallet. Instead of a nerve block they tied me down and kept sticking me with freezing needles with no pause until the surgeon goes "ok, now this is the worst part" and stuck me in the tip of my finger. Then he paused to make sure I was froze before he started cutting me. OMG!!! He also had my finger in an over extended position in the splint that I wore for almost 3 months before he decided to operate. He said my finger was trying to heal when I complained about the pain that the splint was causing. He barely looked at it before dismissing me. I went to my family doctor, but it took a bit to get in (my 40+ year family doctor retired but had another doctor take over her practice, and it took a while for the transfer). She said I had a pressure sore starting, and the knuckle itself was inflamed. She said stop wearing that splint because you obviously have a defect that he's going to surgically repair. She put me on an antibiotic for the pressure sore and Voltaren for the inflammation because I can't take NSAIDS. It hadn't broken my skin but was red, swollen, painful, and had some small blisters on it. I ended up with a QUACK!!! I have a month of healing to do niw and then the pin gets removed. I'm just hoping it heals, and it doesn't hurt when he takes the pin out.....

After watching this ,I have hope!

This is the best video on RU-vid rn.

Very well explained. I wish you are in UK. Many thanks!

You seem very knowledgeable and i would really like your medical opinion Thank You!:)

Very helpful thank you

Hi, just came across this video, very helpful, thank you. Do you think splinting in the suggested position over the 2 joints in "boutonniere" position would still work 4 months post-injury? Patient has swan neck deformity passively correctable (PIP PROM flexion still full with little pulling sensation and DIP passively extendable to neutral). Thank you so much in advance for your reply.

and THANK YOU for posting this!!

Great video, well done.

I am a surgeon in Dallas, Texas. I injured my DIP in a minor traumatic injury. I have a non- fractured tendon disruption. My hand surgeon put me in a modified Stax splint for 10 weeks. I still have a 30 degree flexion deformity and now my PIP is stiff an swollen. I am going to try the anti-swan splint for six weeks. I am hoping to avoid surgery. This is so disappointing. I really appreciate your insight and expertise. Marlon Padilla, M.D.

Thanks for making the video. Got a mallet finger tendon 10 days ago. Was looking for more information

Wish I was near you bro, to get this good treatment

Hi, thanks for the video, I have a finger that is hurting me at the moment and was wondering if there is anyway I could contact you with pictures or maybe a call to explain what is up with my finger? I live in the uk and I would go to see the doctor but in these times I would rather not put stress on the NHS. Please reply, thank you :)

I went to the hospital in Sydney's west and they thought I was a physiotherapist when I explained how you treated tendon related mallet finger. What is the thermoplastic stuff used to create the splint as the hospital didn't have it and so couldn't make one. I'd like to make one myself as all the hospital wanted to do was put it in a stax splint.

Thanks for the video. Unfortunately, looks like I'm one of many who fell victim to improper treatment of a tendinous mallet finger injury. can't bend my middle joint after 7 weeks of being in the wrong splint. FML.

Hello Action Rehab, the extensor tendon of my ring finger got completely ruptured based on ultrasound picture. Can this also be fixed by splint? Does the splint only work for those mallet finger with streched tendon or bony injury? How much should it be over extended?

Seeing this video I have expected a lot of hope....thanks brother. How can I contact u?

Where could I get a brace for the swan neck deformity or how was the one in the video done I can’t find the materials?

THANK YOU!

What can someone do for an old improper healed mallet tip. Had a partial rupture on the right ring finger extender tendon(?) At the tip. It's been 2 years plus since the injury. Had a stack splint ... only for about three weeks and was told to get back to work at A very well known internet shopping company that's named after a rain forest.

i was wonder why i have the standard mallet sprint for 6 months and still not work, I will try the swan next. Thanks

Can you tell me what that Material is what you use for the splint please

This is the best video I've seen about explaining the different between bony and tendonous mallet. I got the injury on my right ring finger. It is a tendonous mallet. My therapist put me in an anti swan neck position, which is good. Just a question tho. Am I allowed to move my pip joint passively to avoid it getting stiff while the dip still being splinted?

Where can I buy those tools and equipment ? And what are their names?

how much time splint is helpful after injury.

Hi - I have a tendonous injury but no swan necking, you’ve not really covered how to treat that?

What is the product you use to make your splint in this video?

Hi Dan, do you have a recommended hand therapist who can splint me in Sydney?

Is it possible for it to heal even after several years of having swan neck? The tip of my ring finger is very crooked, probably close to 60 degrees.

Ok so 14th Dec 2018 I caught a cricket ball wrong. The tendon in my right thumb snapped off I believe it's the extensor pollicis longus, the bone was still fine though. It's been in a mallet splint since which is almost 4 months now. I went to the orthopaedic today and he said I should just place left index finger against the joint between the proximal and distal phalanx and start flexing my thumb everyday like that. The movement is very restrictive, I'd say I only have about 15% flexion. I wonder is this the best and only rehabilitation exercise for my thumb?

what is that splint tape called, and where do we get it? Thanks

I have a slight concern though. I have had this injury for at least a year now and havent saw a doctor. Is it possible to fix it after such a long time?

What if i splint it 2 weeks later? I dont have the swan neck. Just the tip of the pinky

Hi where we get the thermal plastic splint from ? Happy to buy from you , can’t find it anywhere and we in the uk !!! Please help thank you

is this surgery alfo for people with a deformity? i have a middle finger that does not straight out at all

*Thanks a lot guys , the info is much appreciated, a tutorial video of how to splint using the Roylan material and method would be fantastic, I saw online years ago that you can also use that method using Zinc oxide tape and it works well as I just did it =).*

What is wrapped around the finger please tell me I need it

It's 3 months and I've seen no improvement, it looks worse and hurts more than initially. I have had the classic splint... is it too late?

I have a tendinous mallet finger but no swan necking, I was given a stax splint. What should I do?

What cast tape is he using?

Please if u can talk about jersey finger treatment. This would be a big help for me!

I had the bony mallet finger fracture I just want to start off and say thank the gods that you have this video on RU-vid. I am wearing a stack splint and go back on Friday for a 4 week diagnosis. Thanks again to all the good information. Will I have to have surgery since it’s a fracture? It’s exactly as the video depicts it.

What is the cast thing he used

This just scared the hibbie jibbies out of me...I pulled a friend off of a nother friend during a fight yesterday and ended up jamming my finger and tearing the tendon...the er put me in one of those blue and silver metal splints and wrapped it loosely...I can't get to the doc atm because I can't drive a half an hour away like this so is there anything I can do at home for it?

Had a tendinous mallet finger accident. I'm a classical pianist, drummer , audio engineer by profession and I'm praying this anti swan neck works. ER and GP Dr.s don't know about it so I made one. Going to see a hand therapist soon.

I should need add some picture of my fingers ...i coudn't flex ny finger what can i do for that

I have a mallet finger since 1 month a go but I cant have surgery cause Im moving out the country would a plastic splint make it heal even if it was 1 month ago since its bent?

What kind of tape was that and where can I get it Please answer

can i bend the PIP ??? i had mallet finger while playing basketball (small finger,only tendon)

Is it bad that i can bend my distal phalanges the top one but it doesn't hurt

I have had my little finger in a splint for 8 weeks for Mallett Finger on removing the splint the joint nearest to my hand will not bend and is swollen and has some discoloration. Its not painfull byt feels a bit sore. is the discoloration bruising ? I have been for x-ray fro a second time and waitin for the results . its more annoying and wary of catching it. I was told to put the splint back n a t night to avoid catching it the bed sheets. I found that if I place a loose but secure dressing and hold it against the good finger seems better. Ive heard this type of injury can take months.

My little finger is also broken in about 2years back can I use this

Thank you so much for the illustrations. Even my ortho specialist didnt explain this.And 4 weeks into a mallet and stack splint,I think I have swan neck deformity.

My finger is not getting straight2 months ago. Mallet finger spilit is wearing in how many weeks to heal. Any suggestions.

What's the name of that stuff you use to form the splint? I need some, as my mallet finger is 6 weeks into using a stack splint and it's still swollen, red, it burns, and I don't think I;m in the right splint. There were no broken bones with my injury.

What can o do now i had 2 Monts mi finger in a bad position can i do someting 2 Monts later in my hospital no one say me that

What if you have already had “the swan neck” stuck like that for 2 years already???

What do you call that splint?

Thank you very much for your video. For bony mallets: What do you mean by over extension?

Great video and techniques! My Dr gave me the old school pastic splint which isn't great. Not sure why everyone in the US uses it. Checking if I can get the 1.6mm aquaplast from Performance Health now.

for the tendon type injury how for how long do you recommend to keep both joints fixed? a lot of people say it s important to move the pip joint while keeping just the dip fixed. does it make sense to keep both fixed for a couple of weeks then change to only keeping the dip fixed? thanks!

When I saw my skin colored splint on there and then the words…these suck… I sighed out loud. It’s been five weeks and nothing. I’m going to swan neck this sucker myself. Where do I get that molded splint? I’m starting the search now! Thanks.

yeah dude this sucks, I did the Middle finger on my dominant hand with a fricking knife, cut the "band" (or what it is called in English) right off so they had to cut me up and sew it back togheter, week nine now, its hella stiff but i am starting to regain mobility.

Hi my middle finger shakes severely when I bend it any solution pls

Sir 10 or 11 months ago I felt the cricket ball toched in my index fingers and my finger turned into a mallet finger, so how can i fix it . sir please answer me.

Hi, A few weeks ago I injured my left ring finger playing Softball and went to the ER and it ended up being a closed fracture mallet finger(bony mallet ) They gave me a small splint just for the finger tip to keep it strait but They ignored the Swan neck appearance I noticed. I am not able to go back to the hospital because I am in between Medical insurance. Where can I get some of that material you were cutting to make an identical splint you were making in your video? I like how it forms it's shape. I have smaller hand for a guy and over the counter splints only come in large. Thank you,

Hi Action Rehab Team, is there an email where we can send questions and clarifications on the process? good on ya guys!

How to buy

Hopefully, you reply my message, I was actually playing football and somehow i ended up breaking a little bit of my lower distal phalange. It immediately turned red and i had the bottom of my nail swell up almost causing it to look like a mallet finger, but the funny thing is that my finger was flat but the top was swollen(bony mallet). My question is how long would it take for it to heal? i have one month with a splint but it still hurts when I bend my DIP joint. My other question is, If put a popsicle stick on top of my finger and wrap it with medical tape to stabilize my joint (where the Boney mallot is located) would that be effective? I'm currently using a splint from Wal-Mart and i feel is not doing enough to stabilize and make the bony mallet straight

Hi. As Bryan Camp asked. Where can we find that material please? Got a mallet finger. Tendonus mallet and my doctor has no ides what he is doing? Please help! Thank you

May i send pic of my dislocated middle finger???? How to treat?

I got a boney mallet fracture, with an open wound, on my left middle finger, 11 weeks ago, and my bone placement slipped, during the second week of healing. My surgeon is talking about bone fusion. They had me in a full splint for 8 weeks, and it was wrong, so my tendon is locked up. It was extra extended too long, and I have a ton of nerve damage. I’m in the hand therapy/healing process right now, so I am here trying to learn. It’s pretty brutal.

Thanks

1:59 what's this grey material called?

hi, I have had a mallet finger for about 6,7 years and I never seen doctor for it. In this case aquaplast or splint is working? I would be grateful if you answer my question, thanks.

Mine is 10 years ago, my little finger still bends a bit

I have a inborn mallet fingers all of my fingers. Can it still be cured?

Freaked out when I felt pain and looked at my my finger and saw the last joint bent. Checked online and taped it for the evening. Wanting ways to make a splint.

Hello sir, can you tell me where can i find that splint and whats the name please.. Best rgds from UK

Hi I need help please! I was playing basketball and I believe I got a bony mallet. There is a little lump over the area that you were talking about. My problem is that I didn't do anything for about 4 weeks until I realized it is an issue. Will splinting it at this point still be helpful? And will the bone heal back? Thank you!

Thanks for the great video. I am currently working in a plastic surgery department in Seoul, as a resident doctor. Though I read Neligan's textbook, there was not much info about the splinting and the post treatment outcomes. I recently got injured at my Rt. 5th finger DIP joint (tendinous mallet) during a basketball game. I've been splinting my self for 4 weeks, and checked the outcome in the midst of this long treatment, and still my DIP is slightly flexed at full extension (10-20 degrees) though there isn't sign of swan neck deformity. Would it be helpful still, to change my splinting method to the boutonierre-like fashion as you described? I totally agreed on your splinting mechanism and will try to apply it to myself starting from today.

My finger turn left or right how I strait this

Any problems with PIP joint contractures after 6 weeks of splint wear?

Sir, iam from india How can i contact you ?

Sir how I cantact to you i am from Pakistan

I am in Uk. The Nhs treated my mallet finger very bad. Put a plastic splint for 3 month and then they realized that my finger had the second injure around the knuckle. They carry on to treat me bad, and after 6 month i am still here. Now they put me a strange ring and looks that start to feel better. Unfortunately my finger wont back never straight. Should I denunce them? I am still going to the occupational therapist. And there they told me that still my finger needs to recover maybe another month or so. I cant go to the gym, play as before. Isnt a pleasure. Sorry for my English. My finger one month ago seemed a sort of hook or S. And as i said now with this ring starts to look less bend but my swan neck won't back straight

Its been 2 months using the splint and my pinky finger looks and hurts exactly the same as day 1...Now I understand why. Thank you very much!!!

sir,can i get this aquaplast in Bangladesh somehow? My doctor recommend me a splinter for 6 weeks,but according to you it wont work...What can I do now? please inform.

For clarification, can a finger with swan-neck be corrected? More splinting? Exercises? I just finished 8 weeks in the wrong splint! Now it is Swan-Necking. Great info though. Thanks.

May i know what splinting material did you use?

I got this after a finger fracture

So I’ve got the tendon mallet finger. Happened on 19/3/23. It’s now 5/6/23. The doctor misdiagnosed it. She thought it was ‘trigger finger’. I wasn’t happy with this diagnosis because the doctor didn’t even see me! Waste of space! I went to see my physio on 21/3/23 and she told me it was mallet finger. I was put into a splint on 22/3/23 for 8 weeks by the hand unit/physio. Been seen by the hand unit at the hospital. Not been much help to be honest. No exercises offered. 10 weeks have gone by and the finger is still the same as it was 10 weeks ago-still drooping! What now? It’s been a complete and utter waste of time! Do they really know what they are doing any more?

years i also have hyper extension since last 9 years i do not have any pains but it is deformed what should i do

I have been splinted by an orthopedic surgeon for 8 weeks now. I voiced my concern about the swan neck from the beginning and even showed him your picture of how it should have been splinted. Now my PIP joint is still hyperextended and he said that's just how it would be. I'm so upset. I live in Dallas, TX and have no idea how to turn to now. Any suggestions?

This was very helpful for me. I was treated badly for the last 2 mallet finger issues and now I have 2 dip joints that are in the swan neck position. How are really old swan neck deformities fixed? Can they weaken the joints even more with a connective tissue disorder?

I injured myself on the job, and 2 months the doc told me NOT to remove the splint at all. It took 2 an a half months to get therapy, original injury was caused by over exertion of grip trying to close a vice grip on something. I felt a pop in my little finger, upom checking it became painful with an immediate droop in the tip. 5 months pass, and what happened was joint stiffness(due to docs orders of not removing splint), I can't make a full closed fist with my hand, and I can't make a claw position. Its been 6 months, i work in a new job, I can use for the most part, my hand, but I still cant do those positions. I cant play the guitar like I used to either. When I try to move my finger in such position with my free hand, theres tightness felt on the joint closest to the tip of small finger, with tightness traveling down to the 2nd joint. Will this ever get better? If I went back to work, did I pretty much throw away any claim of compensation I had? I did get workers comp while off, but eventually discharged with the doc saying "functionality is all there, so you're clear to go. Eventually with time you'll regain mobility." It bothers the shit out of me. I fear if I try to hard at something, even if I do a pull up...it will rupture that tendon again (which is what they said happened.)

Good