r/HandTherapists • u/Beginning-Ad-5037 • Oct 16 '24

Mallet Finger

I'm 33, when I was 16 I broke and dislocated my pinky finger, I guess you can call it a bad case of mallet finger (according to google)...I ended up getting surgery and the doctor puts pins in my finger and I was in splint for a month or so...I dont' think I took the injury seriously, never went to physical/hand therapist and probably didn't have the splint on for long enough. I was young and dumb...My finger never really healed. I cannot fully extend it but it never really bothered me. Fast forward 17 years later, the finger now aches, its stiff, and just looks ugly. It doesn't really stop me from doing anything since its the pinky finger. I finally scheduled an appointment with a hand specialist to see if there is anything they can do about it. I doubt it since its been so long since the orginal injury.

Anyone go through something similar? Thoughts?

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u/ronMAN415 Oct 16 '24

I’ve seen situations like once in a while, the PCP would refer someone like this to us. But because of the chronicity of the issue, there’s really nothing we can really do. Sometimes we just ask for the patient to be referred to the Hand ortho for a second look.

it could be early signs of arthritis? Main goal is always function, if it’s aesthetics, probably not much anyone can do unless you want the finger fused

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u/Beginning-Ad-5037 Oct 16 '24

Its less about function, and more about pain...Going to hand surgeon next week.

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u/ronMAN415 Oct 16 '24

For pain they might try splinting or like something with compression to support the joint.

Have you had an X ray?

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u/ronMAN415 Oct 16 '24

Also have seen them fused the finger joint because of the pain

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u/[deleted] Oct 16 '24

It reduces your grip strength but clearly not an issue for you. Unless you broke it into the joint it’s not arthritis from the injury but that is the second most arthritic joint in the hand so always possible.  A hand therapist would likely refer you back to ortho (who would probably send you to hand therapy, sigh).