Causes

In addition to cuts on the arm or hand, sport activities can cause flexor tendon injuries. Football, wrestling and rugby are common for “Jersey Finger,” an injury where a player’s finger gets stuck in another players jersey, resulting in a pulled or strained digit when the tendon gets pulled from the bone.

Other conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis can weaken the flexor tendon, making it more likely to tear. This can happen without injury or symptom; a patient may suddenly realize that a finger no longer bends, for example.

Symptoms

Common symptoms for Flexor Tendon Injuries include:

Open injuries, such as a cut on the palm side of the hand, often where the skin folds at the bend in the finger.
Inability to bend one or more joints of the finger.
Pain when the finger is bent.
Tenderness along the finger on the palm side of the hand.

Numbness in the fingertip.

Treatments

A doctor may place the hand in a splint to protect it while it heals.

Tendons cannot heal unless the ends are touching. This does not not occur in a complete tear. In most cases, a torn tendon must be repaired surgically – the sooner the better.

Recovery improves when surgery is performed soon after the injury occurs and is normally performed 7-10 days after an injury.

Surgical:

There are several different procedures to repair a torn tendon depending on the nature of the tear. Tears can be straight across, torn at an angle and pulled from the bone. Each specialized surgical procedure includes special sutures or stitches as they are commonly called.

What Are Flexor Tendon Injuries?

More Information About Flexor Tendon Injuries

Causes

Symptoms

Treatments

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