Presentation
Blunt trauma, the patient injured his index finger.
Patient Data
There is a dorsal avulsion fracture of the right index finger, with flexion of the DIP articulation giving rise to the clinical mallet deformity.
There is a slight irregularity of the terminal phalanx of the index finger especially in comparison to the rest of the digits.
There is a burst fracture of the phalangeal tuft and neck of the right index finger, with mild volar angulation. There is no extension to the DIP articulation.
Case Discussion
A case of a repeat right index finger trauma.
After review of previous imaging, the terminal phalangeal tuft irregularity on the current visit is confirmed to be due to healing of a prior burst fracture.
Mallet injuries are usually of the dominant hand as in this case 1. Mallet injuries of the index finger are relatively uncommon as these injuries usually affect the middle, ring, or small finger 1.
Dorsal avulsion fractures of the fingers are often poorly identified on a solitary AP view, and tangential and often oblique views are necessary to make the diagnosis.
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