Does a fingertip that droops and cannot straighten, mallet finger, always need surgery?

Doctor’s answer

Most acute mallet fingers can be treated with splinting. The key is keeping the distal joint continuously straight, usually full-time for 6 to 8 weeks. A large avulsion fracture, joint subluxation, open injury, or inability to maintain splinting requires hand-surgery assessment.

This content is for education. Diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation require an individual assessment by a sports medicine specialist.