Skip to main content

Main menu

  • HOME
  • ARTICLES
    • Current Issue
    • Ahead of Print
    • Archives
    • Abstracts In Press
    • Special Issue Archive
    • Subject Collections
  • INFO FOR
    • Authors
    • Reviewers
    • Call For Papers
    • Subscribers
    • Advertisers
  • SUBMIT
    • Manuscript
    • Peer Review
  • ABOUT
    • The JABFM
    • The Editing Fellowship
    • Editorial Board
    • Indexing
    • Editors' Blog
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • Other Publications
    • abfm

User menu

Search

  • Advanced search
American Board of Family Medicine
  • Other Publications
    • abfm
American Board of Family Medicine

American Board of Family Medicine

Advanced Search

  • HOME
  • ARTICLES
    • Current Issue
    • Ahead of Print
    • Archives
    • Abstracts In Press
    • Special Issue Archive
    • Subject Collections
  • INFO FOR
    • Authors
    • Reviewers
    • Call For Papers
    • Subscribers
    • Advertisers
  • SUBMIT
    • Manuscript
    • Peer Review
  • ABOUT
    • The JABFM
    • The Editing Fellowship
    • Editorial Board
    • Indexing
    • Editors' Blog
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • JABFM on Bluesky
  • JABFM On Facebook
  • JABFM On Twitter
  • JABFM On YouTube
Research ArticleEvidence-Based Clinical Practice

Conservative Versus Surgical Treatment of Mallet Finger: A Pooled Quantitative Literature Evaluation

John P. Geyman, Kenneth Fink and Sean D. Sullivan
The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice September 1998, 11 (5) 382-390; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3122/15572625-11-5-382
John P. Geyman
From the Department of Family Medicine (JPG, KF), and the Department of Pharmacy and Health Services (SDS), University of Washington, Seattle.
MD
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Kenneth Fink
From the Department of Family Medicine (JPG, KF), and the Department of Pharmacy and Health Services (SDS), University of Washington, Seattle.
MD, MGA
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Sean D. Sullivan
From the Department of Family Medicine (JPG, KF), and the Department of Pharmacy and Health Services (SDS), University of Washington, Seattle.
PhD
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • Article
  • References
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF
Loading

Abstract

Background: Although common, mallet finger represents a spectrum of injuries for which there are many questions about the best form of treatment. A long-standing controversy continues as to strategies and techniques of treatment. This quantitative literature analysis is the first that makes use of an evidence-based evaluation process to pool across studies the outcomes of conservative versus surgical treatment of closed mallet finger injuries of both acute and chronic or recurrent types.

Methods: Published articles in English were sought using multiple methods, including the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases, reference review, and correspondence with selected experts. Both observational and randomized trials were included. Results were summarized in terms of 95 percent confidence intervals, and sensitivity analysis was performed for two other amounts of residual extensor lag.

Results: Of the 41 reports retrieved, 26 met inclusion criteria, including 21 for initial acute treatment (1146 pooled digits) and 5 for chronic or recurrent treatment (148 pooled digits). Successful outcomes were found in about 77 percent of mallet fingers treated conservatively by splintage, including 480 patients who were observed for a 2-year period. Patient satisfaction with conservative treatment was found to be about 83 percent in 6 studies recording overall patient satisfaction (315 pooled patients). Successful outcomes of surgical treatment for acute mallet finger averaged about 85 percent in 3 studies (60 pooled digits) and about 73 percent in 5 studies of chronic or recurrent mallet finger.

Conclusions: Conservative treatment of at least 80 percent of mallet finger injuries is safe, effective, well accepted by patients, and cost efficient compared with surgical treatment. Multiple types of surgical procedures are available when surgery is indicated for a limited number of open or otherwise complex mallet finger injuries as well as for chronic or recurrent mallet finger.

PreviousNext
Back to top

In this issue

The Journal of the American Board of Family     Practice: 11 (5)
The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice
Vol. 11, Issue 5
1 Sep 1998
  • Table of Contents
  • Table of Contents (PDF)
  • Index by author
  • Front Matter (PDF)
Download PDF
Article Alerts
Sign In to Email Alerts with your Email Address
Email Article

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on American Board of Family Medicine.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Conservative Versus Surgical Treatment of Mallet Finger: A Pooled Quantitative Literature Evaluation
(Your Name) has sent you a message from American Board of Family Medicine
(Your Name) thought you would like to see the American Board of Family Medicine web site.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
4 + 2 =
Solve this simple math problem and enter the result. E.g. for 1+3, enter 4.
Citation Tools
Conservative Versus Surgical Treatment of Mallet Finger: A Pooled Quantitative Literature Evaluation
John P. Geyman, Kenneth Fink, Sean D. Sullivan
The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice Sep 1998, 11 (5) 382-390; DOI: 10.3122/15572625-11-5-382

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
Share
Conservative Versus Surgical Treatment of Mallet Finger: A Pooled Quantitative Literature Evaluation
John P. Geyman, Kenneth Fink, Sean D. Sullivan
The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice Sep 1998, 11 (5) 382-390; DOI: 10.3122/15572625-11-5-382
Twitter logo Facebook logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One

Jump to section

  • Article
  • References
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF

Related Articles

  • No related articles found.
  • PubMed
  • Google Scholar

Cited By...

  • No citing articles found.
  • Google Scholar

More in this TOC Section

  • Dietary Calcium Intake and Obesity
  • Patients with a Family History of Cancer: Identification and Management
  • Postvasectomy Semen Analysis: Are Men Following Up?
Show more Evidence-Based Clinical Practice

Similar Articles

Navigate

  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues

Authors & Reviewers

  • Info For Authors
  • Info For Reviewers
  • Submit A Manuscript/Review

Other Services

  • Get Email Alerts
  • Classifieds
  • Reprints and Permissions

Other Resources

  • Forms
  • Contact Us
  • ABFM News

© 2025 American Board of Family Medicine

Powered by HighWire