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TC(1074).(05).Orthopedics Case No 150:- Mallet Finger

Mallet Finger — বাংলা Clinical Note

সতর্কতা: Mallet finger-এর প্রধান চিকিৎসা হলো DIP joint splinting। ওষুধ tendon/joint deformity ঠিক করে না; ওষুধের কাজ হলো pain, swelling, wound infection risk কমানো। Closed uncomplicated mallet finger-এ antibiotic লাগে না।


1) Definition / সংজ্ঞা

Mallet finger হলো আঙুলের শেষ জয়েন্ট DIP joint-এর extensor tendon injury, যার ফলে আঙুলের ডগা নিচের দিকে ঝুলে থাকে এবং রোগী নিজে থেকে fingertip সোজা করতে পারে না।

এটি baseball finger / drop finger নামেও পরিচিত। Injury tendon rupture হতে পারে, অথবা tendon-এর সাথে distal phalanx-এর ছোট bone fragment উঠে আসতে পারে—এটিকে bony mallet finger বলা হয়।


2) Causes / Etiology — কারণসমূহ

A. Common traumatic causes

  • Ball injury / sports injury
    ক্রিকেট, ফুটবল, basketball, volleyball—বল fingertip-এ লাগলে extended finger হঠাৎ flex হয়ে যায়।
  • Forceful flexion of extended fingertip
    আঙুল সোজা থাকা অবস্থায় ডগায় direct force লাগলে terminal extensor tendon ছিঁড়ে যায়।
  • Jammed finger
    দরজা, টেবিল, খেলাধুলা বা পড়ে গিয়ে fingertip jam হলে হতে পারে।
  • Cut injury / laceration over DIP joint
    আঙুলের dorsal side-এ কাটা লাগলে extensor tendon সরাসরি কেটে যেতে পারে। এটি open mallet injury—urgent referral দরকার।
  • Crush injury
    ভারী কিছুতে fingertip চাপা পড়লে tendon + bone + nail bed injury একসাথে হতে পারে।

B. Bony cause

  • Avulsion fracture of distal phalanx
    Terminal extensor tendon distal phalanx থেকে bone fragment সহ ছিঁড়ে যায়।

C. High-risk situation

  • শিশু বা adolescent-এ distal phalanx physis involvement থাকলে Seymour fracture mimic করতে পারে—এটি missed হলে infection/deformity risk বেশি।

3) Pathophysiology — কীভাবে deformity হয়

DIP joint সোজা করার জন্য terminal extensor tendon distal phalanx-এর base-এ attach থাকে। Injury হলে tendon আর distal phalanx টানতে পারে না। ফলে FDP tendon-এর flexion force unopposed থাকে এবং fingertip flexed অবস্থায় ঝুলে যায়।

Untreated থাকলে extensor mechanism imbalance হয়—DIP flexion + PIP hyperextension তৈরি হয়ে swan-neck deformity হতে পারে।


4) Symptoms / Clinical Features — লক্ষণসমূহ

  • আঙুলের ডগা নিচের দিকে ঝুলে থাকা
    DIP joint flexed posture-এ থাকে।
  • নিজে থেকে fingertip সোজা করতে না পারা
    রোগী active DIP extension করতে পারে না, কিন্তু examiner passive extension করলে সাধারণত সোজা হয়।
  • DIP joint-এর dorsal side pain
    আঙুলের শেষ জয়েন্টের পেছনে ব্যথা থাকে।
  • Swelling / bruise
    DIP joint-এর চারপাশে ফোলা, লালচে বা নীলচে bruising থাকতে পারে।
  • Tenderness at base of distal phalanx
    distal phalanx dorsal base-এ চাপ দিলে ব্যথা হয়।
  • Bony mallet হলে বেশি pain + swelling
    fracture fragment থাকলে pain, swelling ও tenderness বেশি হতে পারে।
  • Open injury হলে wound / bleeding / tendon exposure
    কাটা ক্ষত থাকলে infection risk থাকে এবং specialist review জরুরি।

5) Clinical Diagnosis — Clinically কীভাবে diagnosis করবেন

History

  • Injury mechanism: ball hit, jammed finger, door crush, cut injury।
  • Time since injury: acute <4 weeks, chronic >4 weeks।
  • Dominant hand, occupation, sports demand।
  • Open wound আছে কি না।
  • Previous finger deformity বা arthritis আছে কি না।

Examination

  • Look: DIP flexion deformity, swelling, bruising, nail-bed injury।
  • Feel: dorsal DIP tenderness।
  • Move:
    • Active DIP extension absent or weak।
    • Passive DIP extension usually possible।
    • PIP movement check করতে হবে।
  • Neurovascular status: capillary refill, sensation।
  • Skin check: splint লাগানোর আগে wound/skin condition দেখবেন।
  • Red flags:
    • Open wound
    • Passive extension impossible
    • DIP joint subluxation
    • Severe rotational deformity
    • Child with physeal injury suspicion

Clinical diagnosis মূলত fingertip droop + loss of active DIP extension দেখে করা হয়; X-ray করা হয় fracture ও joint alignment দেখার জন্য।


6) Investigations — Specific tests

1. Plain X-ray of affected finger — mandatory

Views:

  • AP view
  • True lateral view
  • Oblique view

X-ray-তে দেখবেন:

  • Dorsal avulsion fracture আছে কি না
  • Fragment কত % articular surface involve করেছে
  • DIP joint congruent কি না
  • Volar subluxation আছে কি না
  • Growth plate injury আছে কি না—children/adolescent

BSSH ও emergency hand guidelines অনুযায়ী suspected mallet injury-তে X-ray করা উচিত, কারণ bony involvement ও joint alignment management change করতে পারে।

2. Ultrasound / MRI

Routine লাগে না। শুধু doubtful tendon rupture, chronic case, medico-legal uncertainty, or surgical planning-এ consider করা যায়।

3. Blood test

Closed mallet finger-এ CBC/CRP লাগে না। Open infected wound হলে CBC, CRP, wound culture করা যেতে পারে।


7) Differential Diagnosis

  • DIP dislocation
  • Distal phalanx fracture without tendon avulsion
  • Seymour fracture in children
  • Jersey finger—FDP rupture; এখানে DIP flexion করতে পারে না
  • Central slip injury / boutonnière deformity
  • Rheumatoid deformity
  • Trigger finger নয়—কারণ trigger finger locking হয়, fingertip droop নয়

8) Complications — রোগের জটিলতা

  • Permanent extensor lag
    চিকিৎসা না করলে fingertip পুরোপুরি সোজা নাও হতে পারে।
  • Swan-neck deformity
    DIP flexion deformity থেকে extensor mechanism imbalance হয়; পরে PIP hyperextension হয়ে আঙুলের shape বদলে যায়।
  • DIP joint stiffness
    ভুলভাবে immobilization বা delayed rehab হলে joint stiff হয়ে যেতে পারে।
  • Chronic pain / tenderness
    বিশেষ করে bony mallet বা arthritis হলে pain persist করতে পারে।
  • DIP osteoarthritis
    untreated bony mallet বা articular incongruity থাকলে পরে osteoarthritis হতে পারে।
  • Skin maceration / pressure sore from splint
    splint খুব tight বা wet থাকলে skin breakdown হতে পারে।
  • Nail deformity / infection
    crush injury বা open injury থাকলে nail-bed complication হতে পারে।

Untreated mallet finger-এ osteoarthritis ও swan-neck deformity documented complication।


9) Management / Treatment — Guideline-based

A. Immediate first aid

  • Finger ring থাকলে খুলে ফেলুন।
  • Ice pack 10–15 মিনিট করে দিনে কয়েকবার।
  • Hand elevation।
  • DIP joint flex করতে দেবেন না।
  • Temporary splint দিয়ে fingertip straight রাখুন।
  • Same day X-ray করুন।

B. Non-operative treatment — main treatment

Indication

  • Closed soft tissue mallet finger
  • Small bony avulsion without DIP subluxation
  • Passive DIP extension possible
  • No large displaced fragment

Splinting method

  • DIP joint full extension বা slight hyperextension-এ splint
  • PIP joint free রাখতে হবে—PIP movement চলবে।
  • Splint 24 hours/day রাখতে হবে।
  • Cleaning-এর সময়ও DIP flex হতে দেওয়া যাবে না।
  • একবার DIP flex হয়ে গেলে healing disrupt হতে পারে এবং splinting period restart করতে হতে পারে।

Duration

  • Soft tissue mallet: continuous splint 8 weeks
  • Bony mallet: continuous splint about 6 weeks
  • এরপর night splint 2–6 weeks, especially activity/sports-এর সময়।

BSSH/CUH/AAOS sources অনুযায়ী most mallet finger splinting দিয়ে treat হয়; splint continuous 6–8 weeks রাখা হয় এবং DIP joint না বাঁকানো অত্যন্ত গুরুত্বপূর্ণ।


C. Surgical referral indications

Urgent hand surgery / orthopaedic referral যদি থাকে:

  • Open mallet injury
  • Large avulsion fracture, সাধারণত >30–33% articular surface
  • Volar subluxation of distal phalanx
  • DIP joint incongruity
  • Passive extension impossible
  • Failed splinting
  • Chronic symptomatic mallet deformity
  • Children with suspected physeal injury

BSSH treatment standards large >1/3 articular fracture ও subluxation concern থাকলে careful assessment/surgical pathway recommend করে।


10) Pharmacological Treatment — Bangladesh prescription-style drug list

Important: Closed mallet finger-এ routine antibiotic/steroid লাগে না। নিচের dose adult general dose; renal disease, liver disease, pregnancy, PUD, anticoagulant use, asthma, HTN, CKD থাকলে dose/choice পরিবর্তন করতে হবে।


1. Paracetamol

Generic name: Paracetamol / Acetaminophen
Therapeutic category: Analgesic, antipyretic
Pharmacological class: Para-aminophenol derivative; non-opioid analgesic
Purpose / কেন used হয়: Mild to moderate pain control; NSAID contraindicated হলে safer first-line analgesic।
Adult dose: 500 mg–1 g orally every 6–8 hours PRN
Maximum: সাধারণত 4 g/day; liver disease/alcohol use/low body weight হলে lower maximum।
Duration: 2–5 days PRN; pain থাকলে review।

Bangladesh available brand examples from MedEx:

  • Napa 500 mg tablet — Paracetamol — Beximco Pharmaceuticals
  • Ace 500 mg tablet — Paracetamol — Square Pharmaceuticals
  • Fibi 500 mg tablet — Paracetamol — MST Pharma
  • G-Paracetamol 500 mg tablet — Gonoshasthaya Pharma Ltd.
    MedEx-এ Napa/Ace 500 mg pain/fever indications এবং multiple 500 mg paracetamol brands listed আছে।

Side effects:

  • Nausea, rash—rare
  • Overdose হলে hepatotoxicity
  • Chronic high dose হলে liver injury risk

Drug interactions:

  • Warfarin-এর সাথে prolonged regular use INR বাড়াতে পারে
  • Alcohol/chronic liver disease hepatotoxicity risk বাড়ায়
  • Enzyme inducers—rifampicin, carbamazepine, phenytoin—liver toxicity risk বাড়াতে পারে

2. Ibuprofen

Generic name: Ibuprofen
Therapeutic category: Analgesic, anti-inflammatory
Pharmacological class: NSAID; non-selective COX inhibitor
Purpose / কেন used হয়: Pain + inflammation + swelling কমাতে short course।
Adult dose: 200–400 mg orally every 6–8 hours after food
Maximum OTC-type: 1200 mg/day; physician-supervised dose ভিন্ন হতে পারে।
Duration: 3–5 days; prolonged use avoid unless indicated।
MedEx ibuprofen adult dose 200–400 mg single dose or 3–4 times/day, 6-hour interval এবং max 1200 mg/day উল্লেখ করে।

Bangladesh available brand examples from MedEx:

  • Flamex 200 mg / 400 mg tablet — ACI Limited
  • Profen 400 mg tablet — ACME Laboratories
  • Intaflam 400 mg tablet — Incepta Pharmaceuticals
  • Reumafen 200 mg / 400 mg tablet — Beximco Pharmaceuticals
  • G-Ibuprofen 400 mg tablet — Gonoshasthaya Pharma
    MedEx ibuprofen brand listে এগুলো 200–400 mg strengths সহ listed আছে।

Side effects:

  • Gastritis, dyspepsia, peptic ulcer, GI bleeding
  • Renal impairment
  • Fluid retention, BP rise
  • Bronchospasm in NSAID-sensitive asthma
  • Rash

Drug interactions:

  • Warfarin/DOAC/aspirin/clopidogrel → bleeding risk
  • ACE inhibitor/ARB + diuretic → AKI risk
  • Steroid/SSRI → GI bleeding risk
  • Lithium/methotrexate → toxicity risk
  • Other NSAID-এর সাথে একসাথে দেওয়া যাবে না

3. Naproxen Sodium

Generic name: Naproxen sodium
Therapeutic category: Analgesic, anti-inflammatory
Pharmacological class: NSAID; propionic acid derivative
Purpose / কেন used হয়: Longer-acting NSAID; pain ও inflammation control।
Adult dose: 250–500 mg orally twice daily after food
Duration: 3–5 days; persistent pain হলে reassess।

Bangladesh available brand examples from MedEx:

  • Naproxin 250 mg / 500 mg tablet — Ambee Pharmaceuticals
  • Napryn 250 mg / 500 mg tablet — Healthcare Pharmaceuticals
  • Naproxen 500 mg tablet — Novatek / Guardian / Amico
  • Naprox 125 mg/5 ml suspension and 10% gel — Eskayef
    MedEx naproxen sodium brand listে 250 mg, 500 mg tablet, suspension ও gel forms listed আছে।

Side effects:

  • Gastritis, ulcer, GI bleeding
  • Renal impairment
  • Dizziness
  • BP rise/fluid retention
  • Photosensitivity—rare

Drug interactions:

  • Anticoagulants/antiplatelets → bleeding
  • ACEI/ARB/diuretic → renal injury
  • Lithium/methotrexate → toxicity
  • Other NSAIDs avoid
  • Steroids/SSRIs → GI bleeding risk

4. Diclofenac Sodium

Generic name: Diclofenac sodium
Therapeutic category: Analgesic, anti-inflammatory
Pharmacological class: NSAID; phenylacetic acid derivative
Purpose / কেন used হয়: Acute traumatic pain/swelling কমাতে; GI/CV risk বিবেচনা করে short course।
Adult dose: 50 mg orally 2–3 times daily after food
Duration: 2–5 days; long course avoid।
Topical option: Diclofenac gel 1% locally 2–4 times/day for 3–5 days, intact skin only।

Bangladesh available brand examples from MedEx:

  • Diclofen 50 mg tablet — Opsonin Pharma
  • Diclorex 50 mg tablet, 75 mg/3 ml injection — Medimet
  • Fengel 1% gel / 50 mg tablet — Pharmadesh
  • Penac 50 mg tablet — APC Pharma
  • Ultrafen SR 100 mg — Beximco
    MedEx diclofenac listে 50 mg tablet, SR 100 mg, injection 75 mg/3 ml এবং 1% gel forms listed আছে।

Side effects:

  • Gastritis, ulcer, GI bleeding
  • Raised BP, edema
  • Renal impairment
  • Increased cardiovascular risk, especially high dose/long-term
  • Liver enzyme elevation

Drug interactions:

  • Anticoagulants/antiplatelets → bleeding
  • ACEI/ARB/diuretics → AKI risk
  • Methotrexate/lithium → toxicity
  • Steroid/SSRI → GI bleed
  • Other NSAIDs avoid

5. Aceclofenac

Generic name: Aceclofenac
Therapeutic category: Analgesic, anti-inflammatory
Pharmacological class: NSAID; diclofenac analogue
Purpose / কেন used হয়: Pain + inflammation relief in trauma-related soft tissue pain।
Adult dose: 100 mg orally twice daily after food
Duration: 3–5 days।

Bangladesh available brand examples from MedEx:

  • Flexi 100 mg tablet — Square Pharmaceuticals
  • Ceclofen 100 mg tablet — Renata
  • Celofen 100 mg tablet — ACI
  • Clof 100 mg tablet — Biopharma
  • Dolonac 100 mg tablet — Cosmic Pharma
    MedEx aceclofenac indication pain/inflammation relief এবং বহু 100 mg brand list করে।

Side effects:

  • Dyspepsia, abdominal pain
  • GI bleeding/ulcer
  • Dizziness
  • Renal impairment
  • Edema, BP rise

Drug interactions:

  • Warfarin/DOAC/antiplatelets → bleeding
  • ACEI/ARB/diuretic → AKI
  • Lithium/methotrexate → toxicity
  • Steroid/SSRI → GI bleeding
  • Other NSAIDs avoid

6. Etoricoxib

Generic name: Etoricoxib
Therapeutic category: Analgesic, anti-inflammatory
Pharmacological class: Selective COX-2 inhibitor NSAID
Purpose / কেন used হয়: NSAID প্রয়োজন কিন্তু GI intolerance বেশি হলে sometimes used; তবে CV risk বিবেচনা জরুরি।
Adult dose: 60 mg once daily or 90 mg once daily for short-term acute pain; lowest effective dose।
Duration: 2–5 days।

Bangladesh available brand examples from MedEx:

  • Recox 60 mg / 90 mg tablet — Renata
  • Powercox 90 mg tablet — Chemist Laboratories
  • Ratirex 90 mg tablet — Radius Pharmaceuticals
    MedEx etoricoxib brand listে Recox 60/90 mg, Powercox 90 mg, Ratirex 90 mg listed আছে।

Side effects:

  • Dyspepsia
  • Edema, hypertension
  • Renal impairment
  • Increased cardiovascular thrombotic risk
  • Headache, dizziness

Drug interactions:

  • Warfarin/anticoagulants → INR/bleeding risk
  • ACEI/ARB/diuretic → renal risk
  • Lithium → toxicity
  • Rifampicin may reduce level
  • Other NSAIDs avoid

7. Pantoprazole — NSAID gastroprotection

Generic name: Pantoprazole sodium
Therapeutic category: Anti-ulcerant
Pharmacological class: Proton pump inhibitor, PPI
Purpose / কেন used হয়: NSAID দিলে gastritis/ulcer risk কমাতে, especially PUD history, elderly, steroid/anticoagulant user।
Adult dose: 20–40 mg once daily before breakfast
Duration: NSAID চলাকালীন 3–7 days; high-risk patient-এ longer as indicated।

Bangladesh available brand examples from MedEx:

  • Pantonix 20 mg / 40 mg tablet — Incepta
  • Patanix 20 mg tablet — Nipa
  • PC-20 20 mg tablet — Central
  • Pelican 20 mg tablet — Delta Pharma
    MedEx pantoprazole/Pantonix indication includes NSAID-induced ulcer and GERD/peptic ulcer disease।

Side effects:

  • Headache
  • Nausea, diarrhea/constipation
  • Long-term use: hypomagnesemia, B12 deficiency, fracture/infection risk

Drug interactions:

  • May reduce absorption of ketoconazole/itraconazole
  • Warfarin monitoring may be needed
  • High-dose methotrexate toxicity risk—caution
  • Clopidogrel interaction is less than omeprazole but caution in high-risk cardiac patients

8. Cephalexin — only if open wound / skin infection risk

Generic name: Cephalexin
Therapeutic category: Antibiotic
Pharmacological class: 1st-generation cephalosporin
Purpose / কেন used হয়: Open laceration, contaminated wound, cellulitis suspicion—skin flora coverage। Closed mallet finger-এ antibiotic নয়।
Adult dose: 500 mg orally every 6 hours; mild SSTI-তে sometimes 500 mg 12 hourly।
Duration: 3–5 days for prophylaxis-type contaminated wound; established infection হলে 5–7 days depending on severity।
MedEx cephalexin adult dose 250–500 mg every 6 hours এবং skin/soft tissue infection-এ 500 mg every 12 hours option উল্লেখ করে।

Bangladesh available brand examples from MedEx:

  • Acelex 250 mg / 500 mg capsule — ACME
  • Cefalex 500 mg capsule — Drug International
  • Cephalen 250 mg / 500 mg capsule — Beximco
  • Navalexin 500 mg capsule — Navana
  • Neorex 250 mg capsule / suspension — Eskayef
    MedEx cephalexin brand listে এগুলো listed আছে।

Side effects:

  • Nausea, diarrhea
  • Rash, urticaria
  • Candidiasis
  • Rare: C. difficile diarrhea
  • Beta-lactam allergy

Drug interactions:

  • Warfarin → INR/bleeding monitoring
  • Probenecid increases cephalexin level
  • Live typhoid vaccine efficacy কমতে পারে
  • Severe penicillin allergy থাকলে caution

9. Flucloxacillin — open wound / staphylococcal skin coverage

Generic name: Flucloxacillin sodium
Therapeutic category: Antibiotic
Pharmacological class: Penicillinase-resistant penicillin / anti-staphylococcal penicillin
Purpose / কেন used হয়: Staphylococcal skin/soft tissue infection, open dorsal wound, cellulitis suspicion।
Adult dose: 500 mg orally 6 hourly, preferably before food
Duration: 5 days; severity অনুযায়ী 5–7 days।
NHS adult dosing 250–500 mg four times daily উল্লেখ করে; MedEx flucloxacillin gram-positive/penicillinase-producing organism infection indication দেয়।

Bangladesh available brand examples from MedEx:

  • Flupen 250 mg / 500 mg capsule — Drug International
  • Flustaph 250 mg / 500 mg capsule — Orion Pharma
  • Flustar 250 mg / 500 mg capsule — Renata
  • Flux 250 mg / 500 mg capsule, 500 mg/vial injection — Opsonin
  • Fluking 250 mg / 500 mg capsule — Chemist Laboratories
    MedEx flucloxacillin brand listে এগুলো listed আছে।

Side effects:

  • Nausea, diarrhea
  • Rash, allergy/anaphylaxis
  • Cholestatic hepatitis—rare but important
  • C. difficile diarrhea—rare

Drug interactions:

  • Warfarin → INR variation possible
  • Methotrexate clearance reduce হতে পারে
  • Oral contraceptive interaction clinically uncommon, but vomiting/diarrhea হলে backup contraception
  • Penicillin allergy contraindication

10. Amoxicillin + Clavulanic Acid — contaminated/crush/open wound option

Generic name: Amoxicillin + Clavulanic acid
Therapeutic category: Antibiotic
Pharmacological class: Aminopenicillin + beta-lactamase inhibitor
Purpose / কেন used হয়: Contaminated wound, bite/crush injury, mixed flora risk; closed mallet finger-এ routine নয়।
Adult dose: 625 mg orally every 8–12 hours after food, or 1 g/875+125 mg every 12 hours depending on formulation/severity।
Duration: 3–5 days prophylaxis; infection হলে 5–7 days or according to response।

Bangladesh available brand examples from MedEx:

  • Tyclav 250+125 mg / 875+125 mg tablet — Beximco
  • Bioclavid 250+125 mg tablet — Sandoz
  • Fimoxyclav 250+125 mg / 875+125 mg tablet, suspension, injection — Synovia
  • Clacido IV 500+100 mg / 1 g+200 mg — Healthcare
    MedEx amoxicillin+clavulanic acid brand listে Tyclav, Bioclavid, Fimoxyclav, Clacido forms listed আছে।

Side effects:

  • Diarrhea common
  • Nausea, vomiting
  • Rash
  • Cholestatic jaundice/hepatitis—rare
  • C. difficile diarrhea—rare

Drug interactions:

  • Warfarin → INR increase risk
  • Methotrexate → toxicity risk
  • Allopurinol → rash risk
  • Oral contraceptive failure mainly if vomiting/diarrhea occurs

11. Tetanus vaccine — open injury prevention

Generic name: Adsorbed tetanus vaccine / Tetanus toxoid vaccine
Therapeutic category: Vaccine
Pharmacological class: Toxoid vaccine
Purpose / কেন used হয়: Open wound/crush injury/contaminated injury-তে tetanus prevention।
Dose: 0.5 ml IM according to immunization status and wound category।
Duration: Single booster; incomplete immunization হলে schedule অনুযায়ী further doses।
Bangladesh available brand examples from MedEx:

  • TTvax 40 IU/0.5 ml IM injection — Popular Pharmaceuticals
  • Vaxitet 40 IU/0.5 ml IM injection — Incepta
    MedEx tetanus vaccine brand listে TTvax ও Vaxitet 40 IU/0.5 ml listed আছে।

Side effects:

  • Injection site pain/swelling
  • Fever, malaise
  • Rare hypersensitivity

Drug interactions / cautions:

  • Immunosuppressive therapy vaccine response কমাতে পারে
  • Anticoagulant patient-এ IM injection bleeding/hematoma caution
  • Severe previous allergic reaction থাকলে specialist advice

11) Bangladesh doctors commonly কী prescribe করেন — practical list

Closed uncomplicated mallet finger:

  1. Splint 24/7 for 6–8 weeks — main treatment
  2. Paracetamol 500 mg — pain control
  3. Ibuprofen 400 mg / Naproxen 500 mg / Aceclofenac 100 mg / Diclofenac 50 mg / Etoricoxib 60–90 mg — pain + swelling, short course
  4. Pantoprazole 20–40 mg / Omeprazole 20 mg — NSAID দিলে gastric protection, especially high-risk patient
  5. No antibiotic — যদি closed injury হয়

Open mallet finger / laceration / contaminated wound:

  1. Wound wash + dressing
  2. X-ray
  3. Splint
  4. Cephalexin or Flucloxacillin — skin flora coverage
  5. Amoxicillin + Clavulanic acid — contaminated/crush/bite-type wound
  6. Tetanus vaccine ± immunoglobulin — immunization status অনুযায়ী
  7. Hand surgery referral

12) Prevention — কীভাবে প্রতিরোধ করবেন

  • Cricket/volleyball/basketball খেলায় finger protection বা taping ব্যবহার করা।
  • Ball catch করার সময় fingertip দিয়ে stop না করে palm position ঠিক রাখা।
  • Door/crush injury থেকে সাবধান থাকা।
  • Injury হওয়ার পর “সামান্য jammed finger” ভেবে ignore না করা।
  • Fingertip droop হলে দ্রুত X-ray + splint।
  • Splint ভিজলে বা loose হলে therapist/doctor দিয়ে refit করা।
  • Splint খুলে cleaning করার সময় DIP joint এক মুহূর্তও bend করতে না দেওয়া।
  • Sports return করার সময় night/activity splint ব্যবহার করা।
  • Open wound হলে tetanus status update রাখা।

Overview / Summary

Mallet finger হলো terminal extensor tendon injury, যার ফলে DIP joint flexed থাকে এবং fingertip active extension করা যায় না। Diagnosis mostly clinical, কিন্তু AP/lateral/oblique X-ray mandatory fracture ও subluxation assess করার জন্য। Main treatment হলো continuous DIP extension splinting 6–8 weeks, PIP free রেখে। Medicine শুধু pain/inflammation বা open wound infection prevention-এর জন্য।


Actionable Plan / Steps

  1. Affected finger-এর X-ray AP, true lateral, oblique করুন।
  2. DIP joint full extension/slight hyperextension splint দিন; PIP joint free রাখুন।
  3. Soft tissue হলে 8 weeks, bony হলে 6 weeks continuous splint।
  4. Pain হলে paracetamol ± short NSAID; NSAID দিলে high-risk patient-এ PPI।
  5. Open wound হলে wound care + antibiotic + tetanus + urgent hand surgery referral।
  6. Red flags: open injury, volar subluxation, >30–33% articular fracture, passive extension impossible, child physeal injury suspicion।

Reference List — Textbook + Guideline + DOI

Textbooks

  1. Green’s Operative Hand Surgery, 8th ed. Chapter: Extensor tendon injuries / Mallet finger.
  2. Campbell’s Operative Orthopaedics, 14th ed. Chapter: Hand injuries and tendon injuries.
  3. Apley & Solomon’s System of Orthopaedics and Trauma, latest ed. Chapter: Hand injuries.

Guidelines / Clinical resources

  1. British Society for Surgery of the Hand. Mallet finger injury patient guidance—X-ray and continuous splinting 6–8 weeks.
  2. BSSH. Mallet Injuries – Standards for Treatment—DIP extension splinting 24/7, PIP free, referral criteria for large fracture/subluxation.
  3. AAOS OrthoInfo. Mallet Finger / Baseball Finger—most cases treated with splinting.
  4. Perth Children’s Hospital ED Guideline. Mallet finger—clinical assessment, AP/oblique/lateral X-ray, referral criteria.

Peer-reviewed journals with DOI

  1. Lamaris GA, Matthew MK. The Diagnosis and Management of Mallet Finger Injuries. Hand (N Y). 2017;12(3):223–228. DOI: 10.1177/1558944716642763.
  2. Alla SR, Deal ND, Dempsey IJ. Current Concepts: Mallet Finger. Hand (N Y). 2014;9(2):138–144. DOI: 10.1007/s11552-014-9609-y.
  3. Lin JS, Samora JB. Surgical and Nonsurgical Management of Mallet Finger: A Systematic Review. J Hand Surg Am. 2018;43(2):146–163.e2. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2017.10.004.

Md.Rafiqul Islam Lipu,Date:-23-06-2026 Tuesday,Time:-11-46-12 Am

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