Mallet Finger
Operation Description
This deformity occurs due to an injury to the tendon responsible for extending the finger joint. There are two main types of injuries that can lead to this condition. One is a tendon rupture caused by a direct blow to the finger or a deep cut. This type of injury may also develop gradually in patients with arthritis. The second type involves a fracture of the bone where the tendon is attached, preventing the finger from fully extending. In addition to acquired deformities caused by injury, there are also congenital deformities, which involve abnormalities present from birth.
In addition to a drooping fingertip that cannot be straightened, symptoms may include pain, swelling, bruising, a bump on the joint near the nail, blood pooling under the nail, and nail detachment. Patients diagnosed with Mallet finger should consult a doctor as soon as possible—especially if the injury involves a fracture or a deep cut, or if symptoms such as pain, swelling, bruising, or bleeding are present.
In some cases, conservative treatment using splints may be sufficient. These splints are used to support the finger until the deformity resolves. If the splinting does not produce the desired results, or if the injury is more complex, surgical intervention may be required.
If you would like to learn more about Mallet finger surgery, schedule a consultation at +381 69 3699801. At Colić Hospital, a team of experienced specialists in aesthetic, plastic, and reconstructive surgery—also highly trained in hand surgery—will explain the procedure in detail and help guide your next steps.
Preparation
The operation of finger deformity involves a detailed examination and diagnostic tests to precisely determine the nature of the deformity and the degree of damage. As preparation for the surgery, an X-ray or ultrasound is performed to see if a fracture is the cause of the deformity. Since the intervention is performed under general anesthesia, laboratory tests and an internist examination with an ECG recording are necessary. It is advisable to quit smoking a month before the surgery, and two weeks before, stop taking aspirin and herbal supplements that can affect blood clotting and complicate the surgical and postoperative course.
Operation time
After administering anesthesia, the first step in the operation is to remove the scar tissue of the tendon. It is cut from the back of the hand, and then the healthy ends of the tendon are sewn. The second step is to fix the joint using a special steel needle, a "Kirschner" needle, aiming for the healthy healing of the tendon and providing support to the joint until the tendon recovers. The duration of the intervention is about 30 minutes.
Recovery
After the finger deformity operation, the patient goes home. It is essential to avoid any activities that could further injure the operated finger and to use it as little as possible to ensure a faster and more successful recovery. The finger may appear more swollen or bruised during the first few days after the operation, but these symptoms will subside in a couple of days.
The steel needle is worn for the next 6 weeks, which is the average time needed for the injured tendon to heal. After this period, the steel needle is removed, and physical therapy begins to help restore the normal function of the finger.
Safety precautions
Complications after the Mallet Finger deformity operation are rare and mostly involve incomplete healing of the tendon, causing the finger to remain partially bent. Following the preoperative and postoperative advice of the doctor can help prevent this occurrence.
Price
The Mallet Finger deformity operation at Colić Hospital costs €600. Services included in the operation price are:
- preoperative examination by an anesthesiologist,
- the surgery itself,
- a short stay in the hospital,
- necessary medications,
- follow-up examinations and dressings in the days after the operation,
- suture removal.
What is not included in the procedure cost is the initial examination with the doctor, blood and ECG test results, specialist examinations outside the hospital, costs before admission to the hospital, phone charges, and medications that the patient takes at home before or after the procedure.