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Hand & Upper Limb
intermediate
X-Type

Mallet Finger Injury

Hand Trauma

A 32-year-old man presents after his fingertip was struck by a basketball during a game 2 days ago. His right ring finger DIP joint is held in approximately 40 degrees of flexion and he cannot actively extend it. Passive extension is full and painless. Lateral radiograph shows a small dorsal avulsion fracture involving less than 20% of the articular surface with no volar subluxation of the distal phalanx. Regarding mallet finger injuries:

Mark each as TRUE or FALSE

A

Mallet finger is disruption of the terminal extensor tendon at the DIP joint, causing inability to a...

B

Doyle classification: Type I - tendinous (closed, no fracture); Type II - tendinous (open, laceratio...

C

Mallet finger involves the flexor digitorum profundus tendon; the thumb is most commonly affected; a...

D

Non-operative treatment: continuous DIP extension splinting for 6-8 weeks (Stack splint, aluminum sp...

E

Surgical indications include Type IVC fractures (greater than 50% articular surface with volar sublu...

Answer the questions to see explanations

Click T (True) or F (False) for each option