Mallet fingers

Case contributed by Ashesh Ishwarlal Ranchod
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

The patient injured his hand during a violent fall. Unable to extend his middle and ring fingers.

Patient Data

Age: 50 years
Gender: Male
x-ray

There are dorsal bony avulsions of the base of the terminal phalanges of the right 3rd and 4th digits. There is an intraarticular extension (DIP). These are best visualized on the lateral views.

Case Discussion

An unusual presentation of dual mallet finger involving the right middle and ring fingers. The majority of these injuries are solitary. This injury most commonly occurs in the middle, ring or small finger of the dominant hand as in this instance. A quick informal survey of the cases published on Radiopedia yielded an equal distribution of right and left-hand injuries and the majority of the cases represented injuries involving the 4th or 5th digits.

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