Injury caused by forcible flexion of the finger, i. e., mallet finger, has always been difficult to treat. In these injuries there is avulsion of the extensor tendon of the finger without bone injury, avulsion of the tendon with a triangular fragment of bone from the base of the dorsal surface of the phalanx, or, in children, avulsion of the tendon with the whole epiphysis at the base of the phalanx. The results obtained in these cases have been very poor. Plaster used for immobilization comes loose in three to seven days. Dorsal splints with rubber bands going to the distal phalanx should be effective, but patients cannot stand the pressure over the dorsal aspect of the middle phalanx, and they loosen the bands as soon as they leave the office.
Patients with typical flexion deformity at the terminal, which cannot be fully extended, and hyperextension deformity at the proximal