Tendons are tissues that connect muscles to bones and help joints in bending and straightening. The flexor muscles are located in the forearm, above the wrist that helps us in moving our fingers and thumb. They function like a bicycle brake cable in bending the fingers, sliding smoothly inside the fingers as they straighten and bend.

When the tendon is torn or cut along its path, at the wrist, along the finger or in the palm, it becomes difficult to bend the fingers. If the FDS tendon is injured, the fingers can be bent to a certain extent, but not completely. When it happens, there is no possibility of the tendon healing on its own.

Most often the flexor tendons are injured by a cut. As the nerves in fingers are very close to tendon, a cut can damage them as well, which results in a feeling of numbness in the finger.

Flexor tendons often rupture or are torn from the bone with a sudden pull against a strong grip. They may be injured even without any break to skin. Risk for tendon flexor injury increases in contact sports like rugby, football and wrestling. People suffering from rheumatoid arthritis can feel a spontaneous rupture of flexor tendons. They may notice that they are no longer able to bend their fingers, but they actually do not remember when they lost this ability.

Some possible symptoms of tendon flexor injury can be pain in bending the fingers, inability to bend finger joints, mild swelling over the joint nearest to the fingertip and tenderness through the finger around the palm side of hand.

Operative Procedure

When fingers are injured, patient can use ice and compression methods as immediate first aid. If the wound is open, tetanus shot, antibiotics and other treatments may be required. If the patient is experiencing the symptoms, he/she should consult the doctor as soon as possible. The doctors diagnose the disease by studying case history, physical examinations, and tests like X-ray.

Generally, flexor tendon injuries require surgical treatment for repair. The doctors perform some initial treatments to know and evaluate the actual condition of wound for surgery. They clean and treat the wounds and put the hand in splint. The surgeons sew the tendons together both inside and outside by using special stitches. In cases, where a tendon has been pulled or cut off from the bone, stitches may be required through the bone or it may become necessary to undertake special anchoring implants.

It is best to have the surgery as soon as possible as many tissues can quickly loose their elasticity. So prompt treatment is necessary to limit the damage, which should be within 2 weeks after injury, at the most.

Time Involved and Possible Complications

It takes time in healing of operated part and the splints may require for as long as 2 months. The patient should consult the doctor about the time from when they can return to their normal life.

Despite advances in methods and materials used in surgery, there are still chances of some complications after the surgery. One of these complications is adhesion formation, which causes reduced range of motion. Other possible complications include triggering, tendon rupture, joint contracture, and pulley failure. Use of superior surgical techniques with proper physiotherapy can reduce these complications to a minimum.

Post-Operative Care and Rehabilitation

Patients should follow the instructions, as given by the hospital staff to ensure success of surgery and quick recovery. Operated part should be protected from any kind of wound or damage.

Rehabilitation is essential, which involves understanding how to recover strength and dexterity in the hand. Specially designed splints are used for as long as 2 months. Physiotherapy is a must in relieving the discomfort associated with this condition. Heat therapy can be used through the splint to reduce the pain. After the splints are removed, the patient should continue the physiotherapy. Ice massage has been found useful before and after exercising the hand.