How long does tendon repair surgery take to work for mallet finger?

Mallet finger affects the tendon that straightens the end joint of a finger. After repair, the fingertip is commonly protected in a splint while the tendon reconnects. The finger may look swollen, feel stiff, or remain difficult to straighten when the splint is removed for approved care.

Hand therapy usually moves from protected positioning to controlled exercises. The final joint may not regain full movement quickly, and progress can be affected by the injury pattern, joint alignment, skin condition, and whether the tendon was protected continuously.

Keep the fingertip supported exactly as instructed, including during washing or dressing changes. If the fingertip bends unexpectedly, tell your clinician because the protection plan may need review. Keep the splint dry and check the skin for pressure marks, colour change, or worsening soreness.

Complete only the exercises prescribed by your hand therapist. Do not force the fingertip straight or grip strongly before clearance. Attend reviews so the splint fit and progression can be adjusted as swelling changes.

Seek prompt advice for increasing redness, warmth, drainage, fever, worsening pain, or skin breakdown beneath the splint. Urgent assessment is needed if the fingertip becomes blue, very pale, cold, or numb. Contact the team after a new injury, sudden drooping, or a clear loss of the position that had been improving.

Ask how long the fingertip must remain continuously supported, how to bathe without bending it, which joints you can exercise, and when typing, sports, or manual work may resume. Ask what amount of residual stiffness or drooping should trigger a review.