Mallet finger (also called baseball finger or drop finger) is a bent fingertip that cannot 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 trying to catch a ball and the fingertip is struck by the ball.

Symptoms of mallet finger include a:

• Bent fingertip that cannot be straightened.
• Painful and swollen fingertip.

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