Aeitiology
- Damage / division of extensor tendon to the terminal phalanx of finger involved
- May occur if flake of bone avulsed from the base of the distal phalanx ("baseball finger")
Approach
- As for any hand examination
- Place palm upwards
- Look
- Flexion deformity of distal phalanx of one or more fingers
- Feel
- Move
- Active movement of finger - terminal phalanx cannot be actively extended
- Passive movement - digit can be moved back into normal position (unless chronic)
Management
- X-ray to exclude fracture
- Splint finger for 6 weeks (in a mallet splint) to allow reattachment of tendon
- If avulsed flake of bone greater than 1/3 width of joint space on the lateral x-ray it should be repositioned with Kirschner wire or other internal fixation device