Fracture, Distal Phalanx, Sports Medicine

Fractures of the distal tip (tuft fracture):

• Open

• Closed

Fractures of the shaft:

• Longitudinal

• Transverse

Fractures of the base:

• Mallet fracture

• Reverse mallet fracture (jersey finger)

• Pediatric epiphyse...

Crush: tuft or Seymour fracture

Direct trauma, torsional, or hyperflexion/hyperextension mechanism: shaft or base of phalanx fracture

Blunt trauma or projectile force against the finger...

Distal phalanx or tuft fractures:

• Closed with minimal to no displacement:

  • Inherently stable

  • Often have an associated subungual hematoma that may need evacuated (see “Surgery/Other Procedures”) ...

Mallet fractures: 1 to 2 wk to document stability (x-ray in splint) and at 4 to 6 wk if there is any evidence of extension lag

Pediatric epiphy...

Mallet finger: Patients who remove their splint even for a brief moment must start treatment over at day 1. Monitoring of skin care should be a priority because splinting for this inju...