Going home after your visit

Mallet finger — looking after your splint

How to use your splint so the tip of your finger heals straight.

For adults & children

You have a mallet finger. The tendon that straightens the tip of your finger is injured, so the tip droops. It usually heals well with a splint and does not need an operation. The splint must keep the tip straight for the next few weeks.

Your care details

To be completed by the team before you leave.

Seen at (hospital / unit)

Date & time seen

If you need to come back, go to

this Emergency Department your nearest A&E other:

Department / advice phone

Follow-up arranged

none needed

Wear the splint until (date)

Hand clinic / review

Notes / anything specific to you

Clinician

Date

Call 999 now if any of these happen

These are uncommon after a mallet finger.

The fingertip stays pale, blue or cold after you loosen the tape and raise the hand
There is bleeding you cannot stop
You cannot get to hospital safely

CALL 999 Loosen the tape and raise the hand first — if the colour comes straight back, go to the ED rather than calling an ambulance.

Get the finger checked the same day if any of these happen

An open wound or nail-bed injury with a mallet finger is treated differently — it needs the hand or plastics service, not just a new splint.

There is a cut, open wound or graze over the injured finger
There is blood under the nail, or the nail is loose or torn off
The skin under the splint becomes sore, broken or smelly
The finger becomes very swollen, red or hot
The splint no longer fits properly, or keeps slipping off
The fingertip goes numb, or the finger looks pale, blue or cold

Caring for it

Wear the splint keeping the fingertip completely straight at all times — day and night. The exact number of weeks depends on the type of injury and is written in Your care details above; do not stop early or wean off without being told to.
Never let the tip bend, even for a second. If it bends, the healing starts again.
When washing, rest the finger flat on a surface to keep it straight while you clean, dry and change the splint.
Keep the finger and the splint clean and dry.
You can still bend the middle joint of the finger as normal.
Take paracetamol or ibuprofen if you can take them and need pain relief.

How it should heal

Most mallet fingers heal well, though a slight droop or small bump may stay at the tip — this rarely causes problems. A hand clinic or hand-therapy review may be arranged to check progress and tell you when to wean off the splint. If the tip bends, the healing time starts again, so keep the splint on.

Where to get help

999

Life-threatening emergency, or a severe breathing or circulation problem

ED / urgent service

A warning sign above that needs same-day reassessment

111

Urgent advice when it is not life-threatening, or you are unsure — call or visit 111.nhs.uk, 24/7

Your team / GP

Use the number and follow-up plan in Your care details above