I think i have a mallet finger from playing football. what should i do?

Splinting: Mallet fingers can often be corrected with splinting. The splint needs to remain on for 6 weeks without letting the finger bend. If you remove the splint to clean your finger, and fail to keep the finger straight, you may need to reset the 6 week clock again. Alternately you can have a pin placed for 6 weeks and then have it removed at that time. Consult an experienced hand surgeon.

Get an xray: You may have what's called a bony mallet which is a small fracture of the fingertip. Either way you will need a splint to keep the finger straight for about 6-8 weeks. See your physician to have it evaluated. Rarely this injury needs surgery.

Orthopedic hand MD.: See an orthopedic specialist who focuses on hand and finger. You may require surgery, depending on what the specialist determines.