Mallet finger (also called baseball finger or drop finger) is a bent fingertip that can’t be straightened. It is caused by a ruptured tendon at the base of the finger joint near the fingertip that occurs when a finger is bent with force, such as when you try to catch a ball and your fingertip is struck by the ball.

Symptoms of mallet finger include a:

• Bent fingertip that can’t be straightened.
• Painful and swollen fingertip.

Treatment includes splinting the injured finger in a straight position for several weeks.