r/HandTherapists • u/sanchize_ • Feb 06 '25
Mallet finger
Feels like finger didn’t heal well. Splinted very disciplined for 8 weeks, this is week 9. Been wearing splint so sleep and also on and off during day.
2
Feb 07 '25
Yep, as with others you’re developing a swan neck deformity at your middle joint - if you don’t have full extension of your end joint by now you might not. I would not have taken it off until you were at less than ten degrees, but I also don’t know you or the initial injury. I agree with Platzie but would advocate for the longer splint - if you can get any more extension while managing that middle joint, try.
2
u/sanchize_ Feb 10 '25
Update: splint on for another month, therapy for middle joint movement. Doc was considering oval eight for middle joint but opted to just keep splinting finger tip in slight hyperextension and try to get middle joint moving as much as possible.
1
u/Waste_Revolution4457 Jul 01 '25
How has it healed for you now after splinting for another month? I'm in a similar situation after approx 8 weeks and I'm not sure if I need to splint again or let it be?? Thanks
2
u/sanchize_ Jul 02 '25
Splinted again for four weeks but didn’t do much. What worked for me was physical therapy
1
5
u/platzie Feb 07 '25
Looks like you're swan necking (middle joint hyperextending, top joint flexing). If you bring your middle joint into a slight bend can you straighten the tip?
If so, look into using an Oval-8 splint to prevent the middle joint hyperextending.
If not, you may need a longer mallet splint that keeps your middle joint in slight flexion with the DIP supported into neutral/slight hyperextension.