What causes mallet finger?

Mallet finger occurs due to a direct force applied to the tip of the finger, which results in a rupture or avulsion of the extensor tendon that straightens the distal phalanx. This injury typically leads to the inability to extend the distal joint, causing a characteristic drooping at the fingertip, hence the name "mallet finger."

In understanding how this injury occurs, it is important to recognize that while options involve different mechanisms, the direct impact on the finger is specifically what leads to the tendon damage associated with mallet finger. This injury commonly happens in sports when a hard ball strikes the extended finger, causing the tendon to forcefully separate from bone, usually without involving dislocations or fractures of the underlying bone structure.

Hence, recognizing the mechanism of injury as a direct force to the fingertip is key to accurately identifying mallet finger and differentiating it from other types of finger injuries that may involve hyperextension, dislocation, or fractures.