What is Hammer Finger?
Hammer finger, also calledbaseball finger, which is seen among common sports injuries, occurs as a result of hard blows and traumas to the fingers of the hand. Most hammer toe injuries, which have symptoms such as inability to straighten the fingertip, swelling, pain, and redness, can be treated without surgery.
In this ailment, which has a long treatment process with a splint, surgery can also be performed if necessary. If left untreated, it can cause problems such as hardening of the finger and inability to bend. Untreated hammertoe in children can cause the finger to remain small and not grow properly.
They are deformities that occur as a result of injury to the thin tendon that straightens the end joint of a finger or thumb. As a result of injury, the tendon can tear or separate from the finger bone. The separation of a piece of bone is also called an avulsion fracture.
It is a disease with painful, progressive symptoms and causes joint changes. It is among the most common sports injuries. And it can affect any finger. Most hammertoe injuries affect the dominant hand.
Why It Happen?
It can cause trauma such as hitting something hard on the finger or getting the fingertip stuck in the door.
What Are The Hammer Finger Symptoms?
Hammer finger symptoms on the hand can be listed as follows:
- Inflatable
- Bruising
- Redness
- Inability to straighten the fingertip
- Sensibility
- Separation of the nail
- Redness under the nail bed
- A bruise usually occurs on the finger. Fingertip droops noticeably and only straightens when pushed up with the other hand
How Is I Diagnosed?
After a physical examination by the doctor, x-rays are usually ordered to make a diagnosis. In rare cases, additional imaging information such as ultrasound or MRI may be requested.
X-ray is important to see the extent of the injury. This will show up on an X-ray if part of the distal phalanx was pulled when the tendon was torn, or if there is a larger fracture in the bone. X-rays can also show whether the injury pulls the joint bones out of alignment.
How Is The Treatment Applied?
In untreated cases, it causes hardening and deformation of the fingertip. Most of these injuries can be treated without surgery. However, it should be followed closely, especially in children. Thus, when children grow up, problems such as stunting or deformity in their fingers are prevented.
First, when the injury occurs, an ice pack is wrapped in a towel and placed on the finger. Keeping the injured finger at heart level helps reduce swelling and pain. Painkillers can be used when necessary.
In long-term treatment, the fingertip must be placed in a splint to restore function to the finger and the tendon must remain in the splint for at least six weeks while it heals.
Using the splint for a long time can cause skin irritation. For this reason, care should be taken to follow the recommendations of the specialist physician.
If the hammertoe injury is more complex, the surgeon may need to surgically insert a small needle into the finger to keep the joint straight while the joint heals.
Surgery for hammer toe is rarely used. However, if there is a large piece of fracture, or if the joint is misaligned, i.e. out of line, or there are bone fragments that result in an unstable joint, this injury is considered “complex” and may require surgery.
In these cases, surgery is performed to repair the fracture, using pins to hold the bone fragments together while the injury heals. For this type of surgery, your surgeon may make a small incision in your skin.
Hammer Finger (Mallet Finger) Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hammer Finger (Mallet Finger) and why does it happen?
Hammer Finger, commonly known in the medical community as Mallet Finger, is an injury to the thin tendon that straightens the end joint of a finger or thumb. It occurs when an object (like a ball) hits the tip of the finger and forces it to bend further than it is intended to go.
As a result, you cannot straighten the tip of your finger on your own because the extensor tendon has been torn or a small piece of bone has been pulled away where the tendon attaches (called an avulsion fracture).
What are the common symptoms of a Hammer Finger injury?
The symptoms of Mallet Finger are usually immediate and localized to the tip of the finger. They include:
- Drooping Tip: The end of the finger noticeably droops and cannot be straightened actively.
- Pain and Tenderness: Especially immediately after the injury occurs.
- Swelling and Redness: The joint may become inflamed and bruised.
- Detached Nail: Occasionally, the fingernail may become bruised or even detach from the nail bed if the impact was severe.
Can Hammer Finger heal on its own without surgery?
Yes, the majority of Hammer Finger injuries can be treated nonsurgically. The most common treatment is wearing a specialized splint that keeps the fingertip in a completely straight (extended) position 24 hours a day for several weeks.
This allows the ends of the torn tendon to stay in contact and heal back together. However, surgery may be required if there is a large bone fragment involved, if the joint is misaligned, or if the injury is left untreated for too long.
How long does it take for a Hammer Finger to heal?
Healing a tendon injury takes time and strict discipline. Generally, the splint must be worn full-time for 6 to 8 weeks. During this period, if the splint is removed and the finger is allowed to bend even once, the healing process may be reset, and the clock starts over at week one.
After the initial full-time period, your doctor may recommend wearing the splint only at night or during strenuous activity for an additional 3 to 4 weeks.
Is it safe to move my finger while wearing the splint?
You should not move the injured end joint (the DIP joint) under any circumstances during the healing phase. However, it is very important to keep the other joints of the finger moving to prevent stiffness.
While the tip is immobilized, you should still bend and straighten your middle joint and your knuckle regularly to maintain flexibility in the rest of your hand.
What happens if Mallet Finger is left untreated?
If you ignore a Hammer Finger injury, it can lead to permanent deformity. The most common complication is a “Swan Neck Deformity,” where the end joint sags and the middle joint over-extends (bends backward). This can result in a loss of hand function, chronic stiffness, and early-onset arthritis in the affected finger.
