Optimising the conservative management of closed tendinous mallet finger injury
Intended for healthcare professionals
Evidence and practice    

Optimising the conservative management of closed tendinous mallet finger injury

Ariana Duarte Emergency Nurse Practitioner, Imperial College London, London, England

Why you should read this article:
  • To enhance your knowledge of the different types of mallet finger injury

  • To explore the different splints available for immobilising a closed tendinous mallet finger injury

  • To understand the importance of optimal patient education and patient adherence

Mallet finger injuries are a common presentation in the emergency department. These injuries result from a forced flexion at the distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ) that causes extensor tendon disruption, and possibly bone avulsion, at the base of the distal phalanx.

This article describes the anatomy, mechanisms, classification and assessment of mallet finger injury. It reviews different types of splints used in the conservative management of closed tendinous mallet finger injury and discusses the latest evidence regarding immobilisation methods and treatment duration. Maintaining the DIPJ in extension during treatment is essential, so the article stresses the importance of patient adherence to treatment.

Emergency Nurse. doi: 10.7748/en.2020.e1974

Peer review

This article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and has been checked for plagiarism using automated software

Correspondence

ariana_duarte87@hotmail.com

Conflict of interest

None declared

Duarte A (2020) Optimising the conservative management of closed tendinous mallet finger injury. Emergency Nurse. doi: 10.7748/en.2020.e1974

Published online: 23 June 2020

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