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Dedo de martelo

Um plano de recuperação guiado por talas para o dedo em martelo, mantendo a articulação da ponta do dedo completamente estendida, sem interrupções, por cerca de seis a oito semanas, para permitir a cicatrização do tendão extensor, enquanto as outras articulações do dedo permanecem em movimento.

Ilustração de dedo em martelo: a ponta do dedo fica caída e não pode ser esticada, enquanto a articulação do meio não é afetada.
No dedo em martelo, o tendão extensor terminal se descola na última articulação (a DIP), de modo que a ponta do dedo fica caída e não pode ser estendida ativamente; o tratamento consiste em imobilizar essa articulação em extensão, sem interrupções, durante o processo de cicatrização. Holly Cheng / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Esta página foi traduzida automaticamente e ainda não foi verificada por um médico. A versão em inglês é a versão oficial.

Este protocolo orienta a sua recuperação de um dedo em martelo (uma ponta do dedo caída causada por lesão no tendão que estende a articulação mais distal do dedo), sob os cuidados do Dr. Kieran Hirpara no Mater Private Hospital Rockhampton. A maioria dos dedos em martelo é tratada sem cirurgia, utilizando uma tala que mantém a ponta do dedo em extensão enquanto ocorre a cicatrização. O programa inicia-se com o seu plano domiciliar, seguido pelo protocolo clínico estruturado elaborado para o seu terapeuta da mão. Traga esta página ou o seu PDF para a sua primeira consulta de terapia, para que a reabilitação seja coordenada. O seu terapeuta pode ajustar o plano, dependendo da evolução da sua recuperação.

Se tiver alguma preocupação relativamente ao dedo, à pele sob a tala ou ao seu progresso, entre em contacto com a clínica. É frequentemente útil tirar uma fotografia e enviá-la por e-mail para avaliação.

O que esperar

Um dedo em martelo ocorre quando o tendão extensor terminal (o tendão fino que estende a última articulação do dedo, a DIP mais próxima da unha) se descola do osso. Geralmente segue-se a uma flexão forçada de uma ponta de dedo reta, como quando uma bola ou um golpe "trava" a extremidade do dedo. Às vezes, o tendão arranca um pequeno fragmento ósseo junto (malo ósseo); outras vezes, ele se rompe por conta própria (malo tendinoso). De qualquer forma, o resultado é o mesmo: a ponta do dedo fica caída e você não consegue estendê-la por conta própria, embora o restante do dedo funcione normalmente.

A boa notícia é que esta lesão cicatriza de forma muito confiável apenas com o uso de talas; a cirurgia não é necessária para a maioria das pessoas. Todo o tratamento baseia-se em um princípio simples:

  • A articulação da ponta do dedo deve ser mantida completamente reta, sem interrupções, enquanto o tendão cicatriza. Uma tala mantém a última articulação reta (ou levemente em hiperextensão) para que as extremidades rompidas possam se unir. Ela deve ser usada o tempo todo (dia e noite) por cerca de oito semanas para um malo tendinoso ou por cerca de seis semanas para um malo ósseo.
  • A ponta do dedo nunca deve ser permitida a flexionar durante este período. Se a ponta cair mesmo que brevemente (por exemplo, ao trocar a tala ou lavar), a cicatrização é interrompida e o prazo reinicia do zero. Por isso, o cuidado com o qual você mantém a ponta reta é o fator mais importante para a recuperação do dedo.
  • As outras articulações do dedo permanecem livres e continuam em movimento. A articulação intermediária (PIP) e a articulação metacarpofalângica (MCP) ficam de fora da tala e devem ser movidas livremente desde o início; movê-las não interfere na cicatrização da ponta.

Após o período de uso contínuo, a tala é gradualmente reduzida (primeiro apenas para uso noturno e em atividades de risco, depois removida) enquanto você começa lentamente a flexionar a ponta novamente. É normal ficar com uma leve queda permanente de cerca de cinco a dez graus; isso é esperado, geralmente não afeta o funcionamento do dedo e a maioria das pessoas fica muito satisfeita com o resultado.

Precauções e limitações

  • NUNCA deixe a ponta do dedo dobrar durante a fase de uso da tala, nem que seja por um segundo ao lavar ou trocar a tala. Se ela cair, a cicatrização reinicia e o período de uso da tala recomeça.
  • Use a tala em tempo integral (dia e noite) durante todo o período determinado pelo seu terapeuta: cerca de 8 semanas para mallet tendinoso, cerca de 6 semanas para mallet ósseo.
  • Retire a tala apenas para limpar e secar a pele, e somente se conseguir manter a ponta totalmente reta o tempo todo (apoie-a plana sobre uma mesa ou mantenha-a reta com a outra mão).
  • Mantenha a articulação média e a articulação metacarpofalângica em movimento livre desde o início; apenas a articulação mais distal é mantida imóvel.
  • Verifique a pele diariamente. Informe o seu terapeuta da mão se a pele sobre a parte dorsal da articulação ficar pálida, branca ou dolorida; a tala pode estar mantendo a ponta excessivamente estendida e precisar de ajuste.
  • Não comece a dobrar a ponta do dedo até que o seu terapeuta da mão inicie a fase de desmame.

Para o manejo de feridas, edema e pele, consulte as orientações de cuidados com feridas da prática.

Seus exercícios

Estes são os exercícios do seu material didático. O exercício mais importante de todos é simplesmente usar a tala corretamente e manter a ponta do dedo reta a todo momento; todo o resto é construído em torno disso. No início, sua tarefa é manter a tala no lugar, manter a pele saudável e manter as outras articulações dos dedos móveis. Os exercícios de flexão suave da ponta do dedo e extensão bloqueada pertencem à fase posterior de desmame e não devem ser iniciados até que seu terapeuta da mão os comece especificamente. Interrompa qualquer coisa que faça a ponta do dedo cair e volte ao uso da tala em tempo integral.

Seu protocolo clínico

O restante desta página é o protocolo clínico em fases para a reabilitação guiada por talas de dedo em martelo. Esta seção deve ser fornecida ao terapeuta da mão, e cada fase inicia-se com uma explicação em linguagem simples do que está ocorrendo. A cicatrização depende da extensão ininterrupta da DIP: o tendão terminal (ou o fragmento ósseo avulsionado) só se une se a DIP nunca for permitida a flexionar durante o período de imobilização, enquanto a PIP e a MCP são mantidas livres, pois seu movimento não perturba a cicatrização do tendão terminal. A adesão do paciente é o principal fator determinante do resultado.

Antes do tratamento, confirme se o dedo em martelo é tendinoso ou ósseo e revise as imagens. Uma órtese de extensão da DIP é utilizada: Stack, termoplástica ou de alumifoam volar/dorsal; o tipo de talas não faz diferença significativa no resultado, portanto, escolha com base no ajuste, tolerância da pele e adesão. Mantenha a DIP em extensão completa ou leve hiperextensão, mas EVITE hiperextensão excessiva (risco de branqueamento/úlceras da pele dorsal). Para um dedo em martelo ósseo, prefira uma DIP reta/neutra em vez de hiperextensão para evitar a subluxação volar da falange distal. A PIP é sempre deixada livre.

Fase I — imobilização contínua em extensão com tala (semanas 0 a 6/8)

A articulação da ponta do dedo é mantida continuamente em extensão, dia e noite, para que o tendão ou o fragmento ósseo cicatrizem. A tala é removida apenas para os cuidados com a pele, e apenas com a DIP mantida em extensão durante todo o período; qualquer episódio único de flexão da DIP reinicia o relógio de cicatrização. A PIP e a MCP movem-se livremente.

Para o seu terapeuta da mão:

Educação e precauções - Aplicar uma órtese de extensão da DIP (Stack/termoplástico/alumifoam), com a DIP em extensão completa ou ligeira hiperextensão; evitar hiperextensão excessiva (branqueamento da pele/úlceras); mallet ósseo → extensão reta/neutra, não em hiperextensão (risco de subluxação) - Uso contínuo: tendinoso ~8 semanas, ósseo ~6 semanas; a DIP nunca deve flexionar durante esta janela - Ensinar uma técnica de troca da tala em superfície plana para que a DIP nunca seja permitida a cair; se o paciente não conseguir manter a extensão, o terapeuta realiza as trocas - PIP e MCP deixadas livres e movidas ativamente desde o dia 1

Gestão - Pele: inspeção diária sobre a DIP dorsal e a prega ungueal; ajustar a órtese se houver branqueamento/pressão; manter limpa e seca - Edema: elevação; movimento suave das articulações proximais - Exercícios: amplitude de movimento (ADM) ativa completa da PIP e MCP; sem movimento da DIP - Mallet ósseo: manter vigilância radiográfica durante a imobilização (alinhamento/subluxação), pois a imobilização é não inferior à pinagem para o lag extensor, mas a posição do fragmento deve ser monitorizada

Critérios para progressão - Período de uso contínuo concluído (tendinoso ~8 semanas / ósseo ~6 semanas) sem lag extensor da DIP além de uma quantidade aceitável, e com pele saudável

Fase II — desmame e início do movimento controlado da DIP (semanas 6/8, depois +2 a 6)

Quando o período de uso integral estiver concluído e não houver, ou houver apenas, atraso extensor aceitável, o talco é descontinuado para uso noturno e em atividades de risco, enquanto se inicia a flexão controlada e suave da DIP. O uso noturno do talco pode ser considerado opcional (um estudo de Nível I demonstrou que não é essencial) e é utilizado de forma pragmática. Se um atraso significativo recidivar, o paciente retorna ao uso integral do talco em extensão.

Para o seu terapeuta da mão:

Avaliações - Atraso extensor ativo da DIP (graus) e flexão ativa; pele; confiança do paciente em manter a ponta fora do talco

Educação e precauções - Desmame para uso noturno + talco em atividades de alto risco por mais cerca de 2 a 6 semanas; uso noturno é opcional de acordo com as evidências atuais - Se o atraso extensor >20° recidivar após o uso do talco, retomar o uso integral do talco em extensão por ~4 a 6 semanas

Conduta - Exercícios: iniciar flexão ativa suave e graduada da DIP (pequena amplitude inicialmente) e extensão ativa bloqueada da DIP (estabilizar a PIP, estender a DIP); progredir a amplitude de flexão conforme o atraso permitir - Reduzir o uso diurno do talco assim que a DIP mantiver a extensão ativamente sem atraso, ou com atraso aceitável (≤10–20°) - Continuar o movimento completo da PIP/MCP; cuidados com cicatrizes/pele conforme necessário - Mallets crônicos ou de apresentação tardia ainda respondem ao talco em extensão; o início tardio não é uma contraindicação

Critérios para progressão - A DIP mantém a extensão ativa com atraso aceitável; flexão controlada e sem dor da DIP recuperada; pele íntegra

Fase III — fortalecimento e retorno (a partir das semanas 8 a 12)

Com o tendão cicatrizado e o movimento ativo recuperado, o dedo é descontinuado completamente do uso da tala e iniciam-se o fortalecimento gradual e o retorno às atividades. Espera-se um pequeno déficit permanente de extensão (média de ~8°), compatível com um excelente resultado funcional.

Para o seu terapeuta da mão:

Avaliações - Déficit de extensão ativa da DIP e arco de flexão; força de preensão; prontidão para carga e esporte

Educação e precauções - Uso diário sem tala; uso de tala protetora para esportes de contato durante o retorno - Orientar que um déficit residual de extensão de ~5–10° é normal e não afeta a satisfação

Conduta - Exercícios: fortalecimento gradual de preensão e pinça; amplitude de movimento completa dos dedos; progressão específica para tarefas e esporte - Retorno ao esporte/trabalho pesado a partir de ~8 a 12 semanas, com base em critérios (tala protetora para esportes de contato) - Alta quando a força e a função forem adequadas e o déficit estiver estável; encaminhar de volta se um déficit acentuado persistir ou recidivar

Retornar ao trabalho e às atividades

O uso leve da mão com tala é permitido desde o início: a tala permanece no lugar, a ponta do dedo mantém-se reta e pode usar a mão para tarefas diárias dentro desse limite. Uma pequena tala para a ponta do dedo geralmente não impede a condução quando conseguir segurar o volante e controlar o veículo com segurança, mas confirme esta questão com o Dr. Hirpara na sua consulta de acompanhamento. A preensão e o fortalecimento progressivo iniciam-se por volta das seis a oito semanas, à medida que a tala é gradualmente retirada. O retorno ao desporto e a trabalhos manuais mais pesados ocorre geralmente entre as oito e as doze semanas, sendo avaliado com base na recuperação do movimento controlado e não apenas no calendário, sendo utilizada uma tala protetora durante a prática de desportos de contato nesse período. Espere uma ligeira queda permanente da ponta do dedo de cerca de cinco a dez graus; isto é normal, não afeta a funcionalidade da mão e a maioria das pessoas mal a nota.

Após o seu protocolo

Este protocolo complementa as orientações gerais de recuperação da clínica; consulte o manejo da dor pós-operatória, o cuidado com a ferida e o manejo da cicatriz. O plano por fases acima reflete as diretrizes publicadas para a imobilização com talas do dedo em martelo, e sua recuperação contínua é orientada individualmente pelo Dr. Hirpara e pelo seu terapeuta da mão, de acordo com a evolução da sua ponta do dedo.

Uma nota se o seu dedo em martelo for tratado cirurgicamente

A maioria dos dedos em martelo nunca precisa de cirurgia. A cirurgia é considerada apenas para um dedo em martelo ósseo quando a fratura envolve uma grande parte da superfície articular (mais de cerca de um terço) ou quando a última articulação está a deslocar-se (subluxação volar). Quando é realizada a fixação, é frequentemente uma osteossíntese com fios de Kirschner (técnica de Ishiguro) de bloqueio em extensão, por vezes com um fio temporário atravessado na articulação da ponta do dedo para a manter em extensão. Esse fio é geralmente mantido durante cerca de quatro a seis semanas e removido por volta das cinco a seis semanas, altura a que se inicia o movimento ativo da ponta do dedo e pode ser usado um talim noturno durante mais quatro semanas. A evidência demonstra que o talim é não inferior à pinagem para o grau final de queda, pelo que a cirurgia está reservada às situações específicas acima referidas, em vez de ser utilizada de forma rotineira.


Evidence & references

Mallet Finger — Injury Outcomes & Splint-Led Rehabilitation (Terminal Extensor Tendon, DIP)

Topic scope: non-operative (and, where indicated, post-fixation) management of a mallet finger — disruption of the terminal extensor tendon at the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint, either purely tendinous or with an avulsion bony fragment (bony mallet). This is a healing injury, not a reconstruction: the entire treatment is uninterrupted DIP extension splinting that holds the tendon (or fragment) in apposition while it unites, with the PIP and MCP left free.

Defining principle of the rehab here: the terminal extensor tendon heals only if the DIP is held in continuous extension and is never allowed to flex during the splinting period. Any single lapse into DIP flexion separates the healing ends and restarts the healing clock, which is why patient compliance is the dominant outcome driver. The PIP is deliberately kept mobile because proximal-joint motion does not disturb terminal-tendon healing. Splint type (Stack, thermoplastic, volar/dorsal alumifoam) does not materially change the outcome — fit, skin tolerance and compliance matter more than the device. The single branch point is the bony mallet with a large articular fragment or DIP volar subluxation, where surgical fixation is considered; even there, splinting is non-inferior to pinning for the final extensor lag, so operation is reserved rather than routine.


A. INJURY OUTCOMES (tendinous vs bony mallet; splinting vs fixation)

Mallet finger is one of the most reliably treated closed tendon injuries in the hand: the great majority heal well with splinting alone, and the principal debate is over the bony mallet — when, if ever, to fix it.

  • Continuous extension splinting is the standard of care and works well for both tendinous and bony mallets, including chronic and delayed presentations, which still respond to splinting weeks after injury [Valdes systematic review LoE 1a; Salazar Botero review; Medscape; StatPearls]. Strong (SR + reviews).
  • Splint type makes no meaningful outcome difference. A randomised comparison of splint designs found no superiority of one orthosis over another; the determinant is uninterrupted DIP extension and compliance, not the device [Pike RCT]. Strong (RCT).
  • Splinting is non-inferior to extension-block pinning for the final extensor lag. A randomised trial comparing conservative extension splinting with operative extension-block K-wiring for bony mallet found no advantage to pinning in the residual lag, supporting non-operative management as the default even for many bony mallets [Thillemann RCT]. Strong (RCT).
  • Surgery is reserved for the large bony fragment or subluxating DIP. Operative fixation is considered when the fracture involves a large part of the articular surface (often cited as

    ~30%) or there is volar subluxation of the distal phalanx; common techniques are extension-block (Ishiguro) K-wiring with or without a trans-articular DIP pin. Single-K-wire constructs perform less well in non-compliant settings [Aksan; Salazar Botero; Medscape]. Moderate.

  • Stack splints can subluxate a bony mallet. Volar-based Stack-type orthoses holding the DIP in hyperextension can displace a bony-mallet fragment / promote subluxation, which is why a straight/neutral DIP is preferred for bony mallets rather than hyperextension [Kaplan]. Moderate (mechanistic/clinical).
  • The underlying mechanism is a terminal tendon avulsion at the distal phalanx. Anatomical and injury studies characterise the lesion as avulsion of the terminal extensor at its distal-phalanx insertion, and a very small amount of tendon lengthening translates into a large extensor lag — roughly 1 mm of lengthening ≈ 25° of lag — which is the biomechanical reason apposition must be maintained so strictly [Tuttle; Yeh; PMC current concepts]. Mechanistic.

B. REHABILITATION / THERAPY EVIDENCE

The central rehab questions are (1) how long and how strictly to splint, (2) whether the PIP should be included, and (3) whether night-time and post-splinting splinting are needed. The evidence supports uninterrupted full-time DIP extension splinting (~6–8 weeks) with the PIP free, followed by a weaning phase, and downgrades routine night-splinting to optional.

  • Uninterrupted DIP extension is the active ingredient; the PIP must stay free. Splinting holds the DIP in full extension (or slight hyperextension) continuously; the PIP and MCP are mobilised from the outset because proximal-joint motion does not load the terminal tendon. Full-time wear is about 8 weeks for tendinous and 6 weeks for bony mallets [Valdes SR 1a; Salazar Botero; StatPearls; Physiopedia]. Strong (SR + guideline-level reviews).
  • Compliance is the dominant outcome driver. Because any DIP flexion restarts healing, outcome tracks adherence to continuous extension more than any device choice; patient education and a safe flat-surface splint-change technique are central [Valdes SR; Cook BAHT survey of therapist practice]. Strong (mechanism + practice consensus).
  • Avoid excessive hyperextension. Holding the DIP in marked hyperextension risks dorsal-skin blanching and pressure ulceration over the joint; slight hyperextension or neutral is sufficient, and bony mallets should be held straight/neutral to avoid fragment subluxation [Azad dorsal splinting outcomes; Kaplan]. Moderate.
  • Night-time splinting after the full-time phase is non-essential (optional). A Level-I study found that continued night-splinting after the primary full-time period was not essential to the result, so the ~2–6 week post-splinting night/risky-activity phase is framed as optional and pragmatic rather than mandatory [Valdes SR 1a evidence base]. Moderate (Level I within SR).
  • Recurrent lag responds to re-splinting. If an extensor lag (>~20°) recurs after the splinting period, a further ~4–6 weeks of full-time extension splinting is appropriate; chronic/delayed mallets likewise still respond [Salazar Botero; Medscape; StatPearls]. Moderate.
  • A small residual extensor lag is the expected, satisfactory result. Most patients are left with a slight permanent lag (mean ~8°, typically 5–10°) that does not impair function or satisfaction; this should be counselled as normal rather than as failure [Salazar Botero; PMC current concepts; Physiopedia]. Moderate–strong (natural history).

Recovery trajectory (expected, evidence-anchored)

Phase Window Restraint Hand use / therapy focus Strength / load Notes
I — Continuous DIP extension splinting Week 0–6/8 (bony ~6, tendinous ~8) DIP held continuously extended; never flex the DIP Full-time extension orthosis (Stack/thermoplastic/alumifoam); flat-surface splint changes only; PIP + MCP moved freely from day 1; daily dorsal-skin checks No DIP loading; light splinted hand use Any DIP flexion resets the clock; bony mallet held straight/neutral + radiographic surveillance
II — Weaning & controlled DIP motion +2–6 weeks after full-time phase Night / high-risk-activity splinting (night wear optional) Begin gentle graded active DIP flexion + blocked active DIP extension; reduce day wear once lag ≤10–20° Light functional load Lag >20° recurring → re-splint full-time ~4–6 wk; chronic mallets still respond
III — Strengthening & return From ~week 8–12 None (protective splint for contact sport) Splint-free use; graded grip/pinch strengthening; full ROM; sport-/work-specific progression Grip/strength built up; driving once able to grip the wheel safely Expect ~5–10° permanent lag (mean ~8°) — normal, satisfaction preserved

(Phase windows mirror the precautions in the patient protocol; they are typical guides, not trial-derived deadlines.)


C. KEY CONTROVERSIES / EVIDENCE QUALITY

  1. Splint type. Stack vs thermoplastic vs volar/dorsal alumifoam — randomised data show no meaningful outcome difference; the determinant is uninterrupted extension and compliance, not the device [Pike RCT]. Strong evidence of equivalence.
  2. Splinting vs operative fixation for bony mallet. Randomised data show extension splinting is non-inferior to extension-block pinning for the residual lag; surgery is reserved for the large articular fragment (>~30%) or volar DIP subluxation, not used routinely [Thillemann RCT; Aksan; Salazar Botero]. Strong (RCT) for non-inferiority; moderate for the fixation indications.
  3. Hyperextension vs neutral. Slight hyperextension aids tendinous apposition but excessive hyperextension risks dorsal-skin ischaemia/ulcer, and in bony mallets can subluxate the fragment — hence straight/neutral for bony mallets [Azad; Kaplan]. Moderate.
  4. Is night-splinting necessary? A Level-I study found continued night-splinting after the full-time phase non-essential; the post-splinting phase is therefore optional/pragmatic rather than mandatory [Valdes SR 1a]. Moderate.
  5. Residual lag as expected outcome, not failure. A small permanent lag (mean ~8°) is the norm and is compatible with full function and satisfaction; mislabelling it as failure drives unnecessary intervention [Salazar Botero; PMC current concepts]. Strong natural-history data.

D. EVIDENCE STRENGTH FLAGS (summary)

  • STRONG (RCT / SR): uninterrupted DIP extension splinting as standard of care (6–8 wk full-time, tendinous ~8 / bony ~6); splint-type equivalence; PIP-free mobilisation; compliance as the key outcome driver; expected ~5–10° residual lag; splinting non-inferior to pinning for bony mallet (with radiographic surveillance during splinting).
  • MODERATE: exact length of the weaning/night-splinting phase (night wear non-essential per a Level-I study); strengthening and return-to-sport/work timing (~8–12 weeks, criterion-based); hyperextension-vs-neutral splint positioning and the bony-mallet subluxation caveat; surgical indications (>~30% articular fragment / volar subluxation) and fixation technique.
  • WEAK / CONFIRM: driving — a fingertip splint is not usually a contraindication once the wheel can be gripped safely, but this is confirmed clinically rather than evidence-defined.

CITATIONS

RAG corpus (180,000+ Orthopaedic articles)

  • A randomized controlled trial comparing splint designs for mallet finger. J Hand Surg Am. 2010. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2010.01.005
  • Conservative management of mallet finger: a systematic review (Level of Evidence 1a). J Hand Ther. 2015. DOI: 10.1016/j.jht.2015.03.001
  • Mallet finger: a survey of British Association of Hand Therapists practice. Hand Therapy. 2016. DOI: 10.1177/1758998316664822
  • The mallet finger injury: a review (current concepts in diagnosis and management). Arch Plast Surg. 2016. DOI: 10.5999/aps.2016.43.2.134
  • Outcomes of dorsal splinting for mallet finger. Hand (N Y). 2022. DOI: 10.1177/15589447221093674
  • Conservative splinting versus extension-block K-wiring for bony mallet finger: a randomized controlled trial. J Hand Surg (Eur Vol). 2020. DOI: 10.1177/1753193420917567
  • Tendon avulsion fractures of the distal phalanx (terminal extensor avulsion). Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2006. DOI: 10.1097/01.blo.0000205903.51727.62
  • Tendon ruptures in the hand. Hand Clin. 2012. DOI: 10.1016/j.hcl.2012.05.040
  • Single K-wire fixation of bony mallet finger in non-compliant patients. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2021. DOI: 10.1007/s00402-021-03793-4
  • Subluxation of bony mallet fractures with Stack splint immobilisation. J Hand Surg Am. 2013. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2013.08.111

Mallet-finger management literature (URLs)

  • Medscape — Mallet Finger Treatment & Management. https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1242305-treatment
  • StatPearls — Mallet Finger (NCBI Bookshelf). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459373/
  • Current concepts in the management of mallet finger (PMC; ~1 mm terminal-tendon lengthening ≈ 25° extensor lag). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4022957/
  • Physiopedia — Mallet Finger. https://www.physio-pedia.com/Mallet_Finger

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Considerations for licensors: Our public licenses are intended for use by those authorized to give the public permission to use material in ways otherwise restricted by copyright and certain other rights. Our licenses are irrevocable. Licensors should read and understand the terms and conditions of the license they choose before applying it. Licensors should also secure all rights necessary before applying our licenses so that the public can reuse the material as expected. Licensors should clearly mark any material not subject to the license. This includes other CC- licensed material, or material used under an exception or limitation to copyright. More considerations for licensors: wiki.creativecommons.org/Considerations_for_licensors

Considerations for the public: By using one of our public licenses, a licensor grants the public permission to use the licensed material under specified terms and conditions. If the licensor's permission is not necessary for any reason--for example, because of any applicable exception or limitation to copyright--then that use is not regulated by the license. Our licenses grant only permissions under copyright and certain other rights that a licensor has authority to grant. Use of the licensed material may still be restricted for other reasons, including because others have copyright or other rights in the material. A licensor may make special requests, such as asking that all changes be marked or described. Although not required by our licenses, you are encouraged to respect those requests where reasonable. More considerations for the public: wiki.creativecommons.org/Considerations_for_licensees


Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International Public License

By exercising the Licensed Rights (defined below), You accept and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International Public License ("Public License"). To the extent this Public License may be interpreted as a contract, You are granted the Licensed Rights in consideration of Your acceptance of these terms and conditions, and the Licensor grants You such rights in consideration of benefits the Licensor receives from making the Licensed Material available under these terms and conditions.

Section 1 -- Definitions.

a. Adapted Material means material subject to Copyright and Similar Rights that is derived from or based upon the Licensed Material and in which the Licensed Material is translated, altered, arranged, transformed, or otherwise modified in a manner requiring permission under the Copyright and Similar Rights held by the Licensor. For purposes of this Public License, where the Licensed Material is a musical work, performance, or sound recording, Adapted Material is always produced where the Licensed Material is synched in timed relation with a moving image.

b. Adapter's License means the license You apply to Your Copyright and Similar Rights in Your contributions to Adapted Material in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Public License.

c. Copyright and Similar Rights means copyright and/or similar rights closely related to copyright including, without limitation, performance, broadcast, sound recording, and Sui Generis Database Rights, without regard to how the rights are labeled or categorized. For purposes of this Public License, the rights specified in Section 2(b)(1)-(2) are not Copyright and Similar Rights.

d. Effective Technological Measures means those measures that, in the absence of proper authority, may not be circumvented under laws fulfilling obligations under Article 11 of the WIPO Copyright Treaty adopted on December 20, 1996, and/or similar international agreements.

e. Exceptions and Limitations means fair use, fair dealing, and/or any other exception or limitation to Copyright and Similar Rights that applies to Your use of the Licensed Material.

f. Licensed Material means the artistic or literary work, database, or other material to which the Licensor applied this Public License.

g. Licensed Rights means the rights granted to You subject to the terms and conditions of this Public License, which are limited to all Copyright and Similar Rights that apply to Your use of the Licensed Material and that the Licensor has authority to license.

h. Licensor means the individual(s) or entity(ies) granting rights under this Public License.

i. NonCommercial means not primarily intended for or directed towards commercial advantage or monetary compensation. For purposes of this Public License, the exchange of the Licensed Material for other material subject to Copyright and Similar Rights by digital file-sharing or similar means is NonCommercial provided there is no payment of monetary compensation in connection with the exchange.

j. Share means to provide material to the public by any means or process that requires permission under the Licensed Rights, such as reproduction, public display, public performance, distribution, dissemination, communication, or importation, and to make material available to the public including in ways that members of the public may access the material from a place and at a time individually chosen by them.

k. Sui Generis Database Rights means rights other than copyright resulting from Directive 96/9/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 1996 on the legal protection of databases, as amended and/or succeeded, as well as other essentially equivalent rights anywhere in the world.

l. You means the individual or entity exercising the Licensed Rights under this Public License. Your has a corresponding meaning.

Section 2 -- Scope.

a. License grant.

1. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Public License, the Licensor hereby grants You a worldwide, royalty-free, non-sublicensable, non-exclusive, irrevocable license to exercise the Licensed Rights in the Licensed Material to:

a. reproduce and Share the Licensed Material, in whole or in part, for NonCommercial purposes only; and

b. produce, reproduce, and Share Adapted Material for NonCommercial purposes only.

2. Exceptions and Limitations. For the avoidance of doubt, where Exceptions and Limitations apply to Your use, this Public License does not apply, and You do not need to comply with its terms and conditions.

3. Term. The term of this Public License is specified in Section 6(a).

4. Media and formats; technical modifications allowed. The Licensor authorizes You to exercise the Licensed Rights in all media and formats whether now known or hereafter created, and to make technical modifications necessary to do so. The Licensor waives and/or agrees not to assert any right or authority to forbid You from making technical modifications necessary to exercise the Licensed Rights, including technical modifications necessary to circumvent Effective Technological Measures. For purposes of this Public License, simply making modifications authorized by this Section 2(a) (4) never produces Adapted Material.

5. Downstream recipients.

a. Offer from the Licensor -- Licensed Material. Every recipient of the Licensed Material automatically receives an offer from the Licensor to exercise the Licensed Rights under the terms and conditions of this Public License.

b. No downstream restrictions. You may not offer or impose any additional or different terms or conditions on, or apply any Effective Technological Measures to, the Licensed Material if doing so restricts exercise of the Licensed Rights by any recipient of the Licensed Material.

6. No endorsement. Nothing in this Public License constitutes or may be construed as permission to assert or imply that You are, or that Your use of the Licensed Material is, connected with, or sponsored, endorsed, or granted official status by, the Licensor or others designated to receive attribution as provided in Section 3(a)(1)(A)(i).

b. Other rights.

1. Moral rights, such as the right of integrity, are not licensed under this Public License, nor are publicity, privacy, and/or other similar personality rights; however, to the extent possible, the Licensor waives and/or agrees not to assert any such rights held by the Licensor to the limited extent necessary to allow You to exercise the Licensed Rights, but not otherwise.

2. Patent and trademark rights are not licensed under this Public License.

3. To the extent possible, the Licensor waives any right to collect royalties from You for the exercise of the Licensed Rights, whether directly or through a collecting society under any voluntary or waivable statutory or compulsory licensing scheme. In all other cases the Licensor expressly reserves any right to collect such royalties, including when the Licensed Material is used other than for NonCommercial purposes.

Section 3 -- License Conditions.

Your exercise of the Licensed Rights is expressly made subject to the following conditions.

a. Attribution.

1. If You Share the Licensed Material (including in modified form), You must:

a. retain the following if it is supplied by the Licensor with the Licensed Material:

i. identification of the creator(s) of the Licensed Material and any others designated to receive attribution, in any reasonable manner requested by the Licensor (including by pseudonym if designated);

ii. a copyright notice;

iii. a notice that refers to this Public License;

iv. a notice that refers to the disclaimer of warranties;

v. a URI or hyperlink to the Licensed Material to the extent reasonably practicable;

b. indicate if You modified the Licensed Material and retain an indication of any previous modifications; and

c. indicate the Licensed Material is licensed under this Public License, and include the text of, or the URI or hyperlink to, this Public License.

2. You may satisfy the conditions in Section 3(a)(1) in any reasonable manner based on the medium, means, and context in which You Share the Licensed Material. For example, it may be reasonable to satisfy the conditions by providing a URI or hyperlink to a resource that includes the required information.

3. If requested by the Licensor, You must remove any of the information required by Section 3(a)(1)(A) to the extent reasonably practicable.

4. If You Share Adapted Material You produce, the Adapter's License You apply must not prevent recipients of the Adapted Material from complying with this Public License.

Section 4 -- Sui Generis Database Rights.

Where the Licensed Rights include Sui Generis Database Rights that apply to Your use of the Licensed Material:

a. for the avoidance of doubt, Section 2(a)(1) grants You the right to extract, reuse, reproduce, and Share all or a substantial portion of the contents of the database for NonCommercial purposes only;

b. if You include all or a substantial portion of the database contents in a database in which You have Sui Generis Database Rights, then the database in which You have Sui Generis Database Rights (but not its individual contents) is Adapted Material; and

c. You must comply with the conditions in Section 3(a) if You Share all or a substantial portion of the contents of the database.

For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 4 supplements and does not replace Your obligations under this Public License where the Licensed Rights include other Copyright and Similar Rights.

Section 5 -- Disclaimer of Warranties and Limitation of Liability.

a. UNLESS OTHERWISE SEPARATELY UNDERTAKEN BY THE LICENSOR, TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, THE LICENSOR OFFERS THE LICENSED MATERIAL AS-IS AND AS-AVAILABLE, AND MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND CONCERNING THE LICENSED MATERIAL, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, STATUTORY, OR OTHER. THIS INCLUDES, WITHOUT LIMITATION, WARRANTIES OF TITLE, MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, ABSENCE OF LATENT OR OTHER DEFECTS, ACCURACY, OR THE PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF ERRORS, WHETHER OR NOT KNOWN OR DISCOVERABLE. WHERE DISCLAIMERS OF WARRANTIES ARE NOT ALLOWED IN FULL OR IN PART, THIS DISCLAIMER MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

b. TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, IN NO EVENT WILL THE LICENSOR BE LIABLE TO YOU ON ANY LEGAL THEORY (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, NEGLIGENCE) OR OTHERWISE FOR ANY DIRECT, SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, OR OTHER LOSSES, COSTS, EXPENSES, OR DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THIS PUBLIC LICENSE OR USE OF THE LICENSED MATERIAL, EVEN IF THE LICENSOR HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH LOSSES, COSTS, EXPENSES, OR DAMAGES. WHERE A LIMITATION OF LIABILITY IS NOT ALLOWED IN FULL OR IN PART, THIS LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

c. The disclaimer of warranties and limitation of liability provided above shall be interpreted in a manner that, to the extent possible, most closely approximates an absolute disclaimer and waiver of all liability.

Section 6 -- Term and Termination.

a. This Public License applies for the term of the Copyright and Similar Rights licensed here. However, if You fail to comply with this Public License, then Your rights under this Public License terminate automatically.

b. Where Your right to use the Licensed Material has terminated under Section 6(a), it reinstates:

1. automatically as of the date the violation is cured, provided it is cured within 30 days of Your discovery of the violation; or

2. upon express reinstatement by the Licensor.

For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 6(b) does not affect any right the Licensor may have to seek remedies for Your violations of this Public License.

c. For the avoidance of doubt, the Licensor may also offer the Licensed Material under separate terms or conditions or stop distributing the Licensed Material at any time; however, doing so will not terminate this Public License.

d. Sections 1, 5, 6, 7, and 8 survive termination of this Public License.

Section 7 -- Other Terms and Conditions.

a. The Licensor shall not be bound by any additional or different terms or conditions communicated by You unless expressly agreed.

b. Any arrangements, understandings, or agreements regarding the Licensed Material not stated herein are separate from and independent of the terms and conditions of this Public License.

Section 8 -- Interpretation.

a. For the avoidance of doubt, this Public License does not, and shall not be interpreted to, reduce, limit, restrict, or impose conditions on any use of the Licensed Material that could lawfully be made without permission under this Public License.

b. To the extent possible, if any provision of this Public License is deemed unenforceable, it shall be automatically reformed to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable. If the provision cannot be reformed, it shall be severed from this Public License without affecting the enforceability of the remaining terms and conditions.

c. No term or condition of this Public License will be waived and no failure to comply consented to unless expressly agreed to by the Licensor.

d. Nothing in this Public License constitutes or may be interpreted as a limitation upon, or waiver of, any privileges and immunities that apply to the Licensor or You, including from the legal processes of any jurisdiction or authority.


Creative Commons is not a party to its public licenses. Notwithstanding, Creative Commons may elect to apply one of its public licenses to material it publishes and in those instances will be considered the “Licensor.” The text of the Creative Commons public licenses is dedicated to the public domain under the CC0 Public Domain Dedication. Except for the limited purpose of indicating that material is shared under a Creative Commons public license or as otherwise permitted by the Creative Commons policies published at creativecommons.org/policies, Creative Commons does not authorize the use of the trademark "Creative Commons" or any other trademark or logo of Creative Commons without its prior written consent including, without limitation, in connection with any unauthorized modifications to any of its public licenses or any other arrangements, understandings, or agreements concerning use of licensed material. For the avoidance of doubt, this paragraph does not form part of the public licenses.

Creative Commons may be contacted at creativecommons.org.