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Phalangeal Injuries, Sports Medicine

Jessalynn Adam, MD and Jeffrey C. Leggit, MD, CAQSM Reviewed 04/2019
 


BASICS

  • Frequently dismissed as minor injuries and therefore may present as subacute or chronic injuries

  • All finger phalangeal injuries require radiographic evaluation.

  • Attempt to reduce dislocations imm...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Hand dominance

  • Occupation and/or athletic position

  • Environment surrounding injury (risk of infection)

  • Mechanism of injury and hand position at time of injury:

    • Forceful passive flexion of ...

TREATMENT

  • Hand:

    • Nondisplaced extra-articular fractures:

      • Buddy tape nondisplaced fractures: Never leave 5th finger isolated and unprotected (remember to place absorptive padding between digits).

      • Drain sub...

ONGOING CARE

  • Buddy tape/splint simple fractures continuously for a minimum of 2 wk; protected return to play with splinting during sporting activities for another 4 wk

  • For persistent mallet injuries wi...

REFERENCES

1
Williams CSIV. Proximal interphalangeal joint fracture dislocations: stable and unstable. Hand Clin.  2012;28(3):409–416.
2
Hile D, Hile L. The emergent evaluation and treatment of hand...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Cheah AE, Yao J. Hand fractures: indications, the tried and true and new innovations. J Hand Surg Am.  2016;41(6):712–722.

  • Rettig AC. Athletic injuries of the wrist and hand. Pa...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Obtain radiographs in all finger injuries before and after reduction.

  • Mallet injuries are the most common closed tendon injury in the athlete, particularly baseball and softball athlete...

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