What is jersey finger

it is also called as the avulsion for flexor digitorum profundus

it can occur in any digit, but it is most common in the ring finger.

this type of injury usually occur when an athlete grabs an opponents jersey finger and feels sudden pain as the distal phalanx of finger is forcibly extended as it is concommitantly actively flexed (hyperextention stress applied to a flexed finger)

the resultant lack of active flexion of DIP joint (FDP function loss) must be specifically checked to make the diagnosis.

often the swollen finger assumes a position of extension relative to other, more flexed fingers.

the level of retraction of the FDP tendon back into palm generally denotes the force of avulsion.

TYPES

Leddy and Packer introduced three types of FDP avulsion based on where the tendon retracts

1. TYPE 1 : retraction of the FDP to the palm
2. TYPE 2 : retraction to the proximal interphalangeal (PIP joint)
3. TYPE 3 : bony fragment distal to A4 pulley
4. TYPE4 : it was described in which type 3 lesion is associated with a simultaneous avulsion of the FDP from the fracture fragment.

CAUSES

• Forceful Hyperextension While Flexed

occurs when an athlete grabs another player’s jersey as they pull away, forcefully extending the finger while it’s actively flexed

• Direct Trauma to the Tip of a Flexed Finger

it can happen during a fall or collision where the fingertip is pushed back suddenly.

• Sudden Pull Against a Contracted Flexor Muscle

Any situation where the FDP is actively contracting and suddenly resisted or overstretched.

• while lifting heavy objects
• slipping tools or the kind of objects that jerks the finger backwards

TREATMENT

The treatment of FDP avulsion is primarily surgical for severe cases

the success of treatment depends on the acuteness of diagnosis, rapidly of surgical intervensions, and level of tendon retraction.

physiotherapy can play significant role in reducing pain and improve the functional mobility

reference

• Brotzman, S. B., & Wilk, K. E. (2011). Clinical Orthopaedic Rehabilitation: A Team Approach (3rd ed.). Elsevier Health Sciences

• Leddy, J. P., & Packer, J. W. (1977). Avulsion of the profundus tendon insertion in athletes. The Journal of Hand Surgery, 2(1), 66–69.

• Rettig, A. C. (1995). Soft tissue injuries of the hand and wrist in athletes. Clinics in Sports Medicine, 14(2), 297–320.

• Bishop, A. T., & Wood, M. B. (1986). Avulsion injuries of the flexor digitorum profundus tendon. Journal of Hand Surgery, 11(2), 198–203.

• Wolfe, S. W., Hotchkiss, R. N., Pederson, W. C., Kozin, S. H., & Cohen, M. S. (2019). Green’s Operative Hand Surgery (8th ed.). Elsevier.

• American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. (n.d.). Jersey Finger (Flexor Tendon Injury). OrthoInfo.