The quintessential game of summer in America is baseball, and we all have our favorite Tiger. Kids and adults alike love to engage in the sport, and baseball teams and games abound – from organized Little League events to the match-up between competing departments at the company picnic. It’s all fun and games, but accidental injuries can happen, and then what?
A forceful blow to the tip of a finger – as can occur when catching a flying baseball—can create an injury called Mallet Finger (also sometimes known as Baseball Finger). When this injury occurs, the tendon attached to the end of the fingertip is damaged by the blunt force trauma of the flying baseball. Often, the finger cannot be extended fully, and pain, redness, tenderness and swelling are also present.
The hands and wrists are comprised of delicate bones, ligaments, tendons and muscles, all working together to allow the hands to perform the finest of movements. If an injury like this occurs, choose a specially-trained hand doctor, an orthopedic surgeon, to evaluate your condition and prescribe the right treatment. Reach out for treatment soon after the injury occurs, to make sure you can attain a full recovery and the injury does not become permanent.
A physical exam will be conducted, and sometimes an X-Ray may be needed to insure the bones in the finger are not fractured. Treatment typically involves straightening the finger and placing it into a split to keep it stabilized. This splint may need to be worn up to 6 weeks. This will allow the tendon to reattach to the finger or, if a piece of bone has been pulled off, to allow the bone to heal. The finger will most likely be swollen, so apply ice packs 20 to 30 minutes 3 to 4 times per day, or until the pain is gone. To reduce pain and swelling, elevate your hand on a pillow when you are lying down, or place it on the back of the chair or couch if you are sitting. Physical therapy exercises may be prescribed, and the more faithful you are in performing these, the sooner you can expect to heal.
You should expect to wear the splint for at least 6 weeks after the injury. If you wear the splint as the doctor has recommended, you may be able to return to your activities sooner. Not wearing the splint could lead to permanent damage and deformity to the finger.
Contact Dr. Rehman and her team of specialists today if you are experiencing pain or tenderness in your hands, wrists, arm or elbow. She is an orthopedic doctor who specializes in treating these areas of the body, and is a Board Certified and experienced hand surgeon, in the event that surgery is required. Call her office today at 586-532-0803 for more information.
