A football goalkeeper catches a ball awkwardly and feels sudden pain at the base of the ring finger. He cannot flex the distal interphalangeal joint against resistance, although passive flexion is full. Which tendon is injured?
- A Extensor digitorum central slip disruption
- B Flexor digitorum superficialis slip rupture
- C Flexor digitorum profundus avulsion from the distal phalanx ✓
- D Flexor pollicis longus laceration
Correct answer: C. Flexor digitorum profundus avulsion from the distal phalanx
Explanation
Jersey finger is an avulsion of the flexor digitorum profundus from its insertion on the distal phalanx, classically occurring when a grabbed finger is forcibly extended during active gripping. Loss of active DIP flexion with preserved passive motion is diagnostic. Superficialis rupture would leave FDP function intact, allowing DIP flexion, while central slip injury causes a boutonniere deformity affecting extension, not flexion.
Reference: Miller's Review of Orthopaedics, 8th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.