Answer :
Final answer:
Mallet finger is an injury where the tendon of the extensor digitorum muscle is avulsed, preventing the extension of the finger's last joint. This injury often occurs due to a sudden force, such as from a ball striking the finger. Understanding mallet finger differentiates it from other finger injuries like boutonnière deformity and gamekeeper's thumb.
Explanation:
Understanding Mallet Finger
In the context of finger injuries, a mallet finger, also known as baseball finger, is specifically a type of injury characterized by the traumatic avulsion of the tendon of the extensor digitorum muscle. This occurs when there is a sudden force that causes the distal phalanx to flex, and as a result, there is an inability to extend the end joint of the affected finger.
To clarify further, the extensor digitorum muscle is responsible for extending the fingers and if its tendon is avulsed, the patient may present with a drooping of the finger at the last joint (distal interphalangeal joint). This injury is common in sports where a ball strikes the finger, leading to the characteristic deformity where the fingertip droops and cannot be straightened.
Other Finger Injuries Explained
Other listed conditions include:
- Boutonnière deformity: Another tendon injury involving the extensor mechanism, but differs from mallet finger.
- Gamekeeper's thumb: This is a ligament injury (not tendon) affecting the thumb, stemming from stress on the ulnar collateral ligament.
- O de Quervain's disease: This is a painful condition affecting the tendons on the thumb side of the wrist.
- Ganglion: These are non-tender lumps near joints or tendons, not directly a tendon injury.
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