Flexor Tendon Injury Treatment

Understanding Wrist Conditions and Available Treatments

Flexor Tendon Tear Treatment Near You in Hoover and Birmingham, Serving Central Alabama

Your hands are your primary way of interacting with the world. When your hands or fingers become injured, you may find it difficult to work, complete household chores, or participate in the hobbies you love. Southlake Orthopaedics is home to a multi-specialty team of specialists who deliver care at every stage, from diagnosis through surgery and final rehabilitation, for hand and wrist conditions, including flexor tendon injuries. Find less pain, more living near you in Hoover and Birmingham-Grandview, Alabama.

What Is a Flexor Tendon Injury?

Flexor tendon injuries involve damage to the cord-like bands of tissue that run from the forearm, across the wrist, and into the fingers. When muscles in the hand contract, these tendons pull the bone and cause the joint to move. This pulling action allows people to bend their fingers, grasp an object, or make a fist.

Injuries to the flexor tendons can occur from a cut on the fingers, hands, or wrist that slices through and severs the tendon. Other injuries occur when a strong force pulls a finger open while the person is trying to close it. The force pulls the tendon away from the bone, causing a tear or rupture. Both types of flexor tendon injuries can interfere with hand movement, limiting a person’s ability to bend joints in their hand.

What Are the Symptoms of a Flexor Tendon Injury?

Patients who suffer a flexor tendon injury may experience a cut across their hand, or they may feel a popping sensation as their hand is forced open. This is followed by symptoms, such as:

A wound across the palm or fingers
Partial or total inability to bend the finger
Tenderness along the palm side of the finger
One finger that lies straighter than the others
Pain when trying to bend the fingers

Numbness and tingling are also common symptoms. These occur when the nerves, which lie close to the flexor tendons, are also injured.

What Are Flexor Tendon Injury Causes and Risk Factors?

In addition to cuts across the fingers, hand, or wrist, flexor tendon injuries are frequently caused by sports accidents. These accidents are most common in high-contact grappling sports, such as football, wrestling, or rugby. One type of sports-related flexor tendon injury is jersey finger, which happens when one player grabs another player’s jersey, causing their finger to get caught.

Rock climbing is another frequent cause. The gripping action necessary for rock climbing places a heavy strain on the flexor tendons. This can cause the tendon sheath to rupture and may even pull the tendon itself away from the bone.

Certain health conditions weaken the flexor tendons, increasing the risk of injury. Rheumatoid arthritis, for example, attacks and weakens joints in the hands. This makes the tendons more susceptible to ruptures from heavy strain. It can also cause tendons to rupture under very minor stress. To the patient, it may seem as if it happened without any apparent cause.

How Are Flexor Tendon Injuries Diagnosed?

Flexor tendon injuries can frequently be diagnosed with a physical examination. An inability to bend the finger is a clear sign of a flexor tendon problem. The physician may also test for sensation and blood flow in the fingers to determine whether any nerves or blood vessels were damaged.

The physical examination may be followed by an X-ray, especially if the injury was caused by a heavy force instead of a cut. The X-ray allows the physician to locate where the tendon has ruptured. It also helps determine whether any bones were damaged in addition to the tendon.

What Are the Treatment Options for Flexor Tendon Injuries?

If the flexor tendon injury was caused by a cut, then treatment begins with wound care. The doctor cleans and closes the open wound to reduce the risk of infection. A splint may be used to immobilize the hand, protecting the injured tissues.

Wound care is followed by surgery within seven to 10 days of the injury. The sooner surgery is performed, the more easily the patient will recover. The goal of surgery is to reconnect the ends of the injured tendon to allow it to heal. A few different techniques may be used depending on how the tendon has torn. Afterward, hand therapy is recommended to limit the formation of scar tissue and to rebuild strength and dexterity in the injured hand.

Meet Our Team

Southlake Orthopaedics is proud to offer exceptional care for our central Alabama patients. Our comprehensive, multi-specialty team includes surgeons and hand therapists who specialize in treating conditions of the hand, including flexor tendon injuries, to help patients experience less pain, more living. Meet our hand and wrist team below:

Michael Blum F., M.D.

Ekkehard Bonatz, M.D., Ph.D.

George Robert Booker, M.D.

Michael T. Ellerbusch, M.D.

Richard L. “Beau” Grantier, M.D

Michael D. Smith, M.D.

Jonathon Whitehead, M.D.

Find Treatment for Flexor Tendon Injuries Near You in Alabama

If you or a loved one has suffered a hand or wrist injury, find healing today at Southlake Orthopaedics. Our multi-specialty team supports patients at every stage of their recovery journey, including diagnosis, surgery, and rehabilitation. Our board-certified surgeons and hand therapists provide state-of-the-art care for conditions like flexor tendon injuries. Contact us to learn more or to schedule an appointment. We have locations near you in Hoover and Birmingham-Grandview, AL.