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Hand & wrist · Mallet finger (drooping fingertip)
Count the weeks from the day of your injury. The date is on your prescription.
If your doctor wrote a different plan on your prescription, follow that instead of this page.
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Keep the fingertip straight in the splint all the time, day and night. Even one bend of the fingertip can undo the healing, and the 6–8 weeks then start again. To clean the skin or change the splint, keep the fingertip flat on a table the whole time. Keep the middle joint and the other fingers moving.
Arm use Normal light use of the hand with the splint on. Keep the splint and the skin under it dry.
Rest the hand flat on a table. Keep the fingertip pressed flat on the table while you slide the splint off, clean and dry the skin, and slide the splint back on.
Should feel: The fingertip staying straight the whole time Should not feel: The fingertip lifting or bending
Hold the injured finger just below the middle joint with the other hand. Keeping the fingertip straight, bend the middle joint as far as it goes, then straighten it.
Should feel: The middle joint moving freely Should not feel: The fingertip bending
Not yet Taking the splint off to test the finger, letting the fingertip bend even once, gripping hard, or sport with this hand.
Move to the next stage only after we have seen you, and the X-ray if one was planned.
We check that the fingertip stays straight before the splint comes off in the day. Start bending the fingertip gently, a little further each day. If the fingertip starts to droop again, put the splint back on and call us. Carry on with the earlier exercise.
Arm use Light use of the hand in the day. Splint on at night, and for heavy work, until we tell you to stop.
Hold the injured finger just below the fingertip joint with the other hand. Using the finger's own muscles, bend the fingertip gently, only as far as is easy, then straighten it fully. Do not push the fingertip down with the other hand. Go a little further each day.
Should feel: The fingertip straightening fully after each bend Should not feel: The fingertip staying bent, or pain at the back of the fingertip joint
Hold the injured finger just below the middle joint with the other hand. Keeping the fingertip straight, bend the middle joint as far as it goes, then straighten it.
Should feel: The middle joint moving freely Should not feel: The fingertip bending
Not yet Pulling the fingertip down with the other hand, gripping hard, or catching a ball.
Move to the next stage only after we have seen you, and the X-ray if one was planned.
Get the full fist back and build grip strength. The night splint usually stops in this stage, when we tell you. A small bump, or a slight droop of the fingertip, can remain and usually does not get in the way of daily use. Carry on with the earlier exercises.
Arm use Normal use. Build up gripping a little at a time.
Move the fingers through straight, hook, full fist and back to straight.
Should feel: The tendons moving freely Should not feel: Catching
Make a full fist slowly, then open fully.
Should feel: Full movement Should not feel: Catching that hurts
Squeeze a soft ball gently.
Should feel: The hand working Should not feel: Pain
Touch each fingertip to the thumb in turn.
Should feel: Smooth control Should not feel: Locking
Not yet Ball sports or heavy gripping work until we clear you.
Call either clinic during consulting hours, or send a WhatsApp message any time.
