What is a mallet finger?

Prepare for the Orthotics and Prosthetics Combined Written Boards Exam. Enhance your understanding with multiple choice questions and detailed explanations to succeed in your certification.

Multiple Choice

What is a mallet finger?

Mallet finger is characterized by a flexion deformity at the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint of a finger. This occurs when there is an injury to the extensor tendon that affects its ability to extend the finger at this joint, often caused by a forceful impact that bends the fingertip downwards. As a result, the fingertip cannot be straightened voluntarily, leading to the defined flexion deformity at the DIP joint. In the context of the question, the answer correctly identifies mallet finger as a condition where there is persistent flexion at the DIP joint, highlighting how the injury results in the typical presentation associated with this condition.

Mallet finger is characterized by a flexion deformity at the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint of a finger. This occurs when there is an injury to the extensor tendon that affects its ability to extend the finger at this joint, often caused by a forceful impact that bends the fingertip downwards. As a result, the fingertip cannot be straightened voluntarily, leading to the defined flexion deformity at the DIP joint.

In the context of the question, the answer correctly identifies mallet finger as a condition where there is persistent flexion at the DIP joint, highlighting how the injury results in the typical presentation associated with this condition.

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