Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesHome RemediesWhen to See a Healthcare ProviderTreatmentFrequently Asked Questions

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Causes

Home Remedies

When to See a Healthcare Provider

Treatment

Frequently Asked Questions

If your finger won’t straighten out, you may have an injury known as amallet fingeror a mallet fracture. This type of injury often occurs when yourfinger gets jammed. This may impact the fingertendon, a flexible band of tissue that connects muscle to bone.

This article explains the possible causes of a bent finger. It will also cover first aid, when to see a healthcare provider, as well as treatment options.

What Causes a Bent Finger?

Mallet finger occurs when something forces the tip of a finger or thumb to bend further than usual, causing the tendon at the tip of the finger being over-stretched or torn. As a result of the injury, you are not able to straighten the tip of your finger or thumb on your own, resulting in a bent posture of the tip of the digit.

In most cases, the reason a finger won’t straighten out is that the tendon is stretched or torn. Sometimes, it’s because the bone where the tendon is attached hasbrokenoff, which is known as anavulsion fracture.

The tendon can be damaged if it:

Finger Joints: Anatomy, Conditions, and Treatments

What Are Some Home Remedies for a Mallet Finger?

First aid for a mallet finger is similar to any othertype of fracture. It needs to be rested and held still in the proper position. Immediate treatment should include rest, ice, compression, and elevation. This is known as theRICE method:

When Should I See a Healthcare Provider for a Crooked Finger?

If you injure your finger and it won’t straighten out within three days, you should see a healthcare provider. Kids especially need to see a healthcare provider if they get a mallet fracture because the part of the bone that controls growth could be affected. This might result in adeformed fingerif not treated appropriately.

This type of injury isn’t something that usually requires going to the emergency room unless you seeblood under the fingernail(subungual hematoma) or thefingernail is coming off. Blood under the nail or damage to it could mean asevere cutor a broken bone.

Most subungual hematomas can be relieved with simple procedure which involves making a small hole in the nail. Unless the pressure is relieved, the patient may experience severe pain.

Your doctor may consider surgical repair if there is a large fracture, or the joint is out of line. In these cases, surgery is done to repair the fracture and realign the joint using pins to hold the pieces of bone together while the injury heals.

How Is Mallet Finger Treated?

Continue to ice the finger a few times a day until you can get to your doctor. Your doctor will likely give you a specialfinger splint, a device that keeps your finger in place while you heal. If the tendon is just stretched, keeping it straight will allow it to heal. If it’s torn or if the bone is fractured, your healthcare provider may recommend surgery so your finger heals correctly.

Summary

See your doctor if you can’t straighten your finger out and it’s been a few days. They may give you a splint to help your finger heal. Seek emergency care if you have blood under your nail, or your nail is coming off.

A curved finger is something that can be passed from parent to child, or it may be related to conditions such as Down syndrome. The curve is due to a misshapen bone or an irregular growth plate in the finger.Learn MoreSigns of Down Syndrome

A curved finger is something that can be passed from parent to child, or it may be related to conditions such as Down syndrome. The curve is due to a misshapen bone or an irregular growth plate in the finger.

Learn MoreSigns of Down Syndrome

Recovery depends on the type of mallet finger injury. If the tendon is stretched but not torn, the finger should heal in four to six weeks if you wear a splint all the time. When the tendon is torn, it may take six to eight weeks to heal.Learn MoreHow Hand Pain Is Treated

Recovery depends on the type of mallet finger injury. If the tendon is stretched but not torn, the finger should heal in four to six weeks if you wear a splint all the time. When the tendon is torn, it may take six to eight weeks to heal.

Learn MoreHow Hand Pain Is Treated

Yes, but there’s a downside. Surgery can straighten the finger and alleviate pain, but you may lose some mobility once the finger is permanently straightened.Learn MoreFinger Arthritis: Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment

Yes, but there’s a downside. Surgery can straighten the finger and alleviate pain, but you may lose some mobility once the finger is permanently straightened.

Learn MoreFinger Arthritis: Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment

Learn MoreTrigger Finger Treatments

How to Buddy Tape a Finger

6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Mallet finger (baseball finger).Mount Sinai.Nail injuries.Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Clinodactyly.Mount Sinai.Mallet finger - aftercare.Spies CK, Langer M, Hahn P, Müller LP, Unglaub F.The treatment of primary arthritis of the finger and thumb joint.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;115(16):269-275. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0269American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Trigger finger.

6 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Mallet finger (baseball finger).Mount Sinai.Nail injuries.Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Clinodactyly.Mount Sinai.Mallet finger - aftercare.Spies CK, Langer M, Hahn P, Müller LP, Unglaub F.The treatment of primary arthritis of the finger and thumb joint.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;115(16):269-275. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0269American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Trigger finger.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Mallet finger (baseball finger).Mount Sinai.Nail injuries.Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Clinodactyly.Mount Sinai.Mallet finger - aftercare.Spies CK, Langer M, Hahn P, Müller LP, Unglaub F.The treatment of primary arthritis of the finger and thumb joint.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;115(16):269-275. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0269American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Trigger finger.

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Mallet finger (baseball finger).

Mount Sinai.Nail injuries.

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Clinodactyly.

Mount Sinai.Mallet finger - aftercare.

Spies CK, Langer M, Hahn P, Müller LP, Unglaub F.The treatment of primary arthritis of the finger and thumb joint.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;115(16):269-275. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0269

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Trigger finger.

Meet Our Medical Expert Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

What is your feedback?