Your tendons connect your muscles to your bones throughout various areas of your body, and the role of tendons within your hand is no exception. This includes the nine flexor tendons that progress from your forearm to your palm.

Two of these tendons are contained in each of your fingers, while one flexor tendon also functions in your thumb. These tendons connect your fingers to your wrist and have the responsibility of controlling your bones whenever your muscles go into motion. This includes the important process of bending your fingers.

Causes

Unfortunately, injuries can develop with your flexor tendons. The most frequent cause of flexor tendon injuries occurs if you experience a cut in the fingertips or the palm of your hand. This can be problematic since your tendons are located adjacent to your skin. If the tendon is partially cut, then it might still be possible for you to bend your fingers. However, a more extensive cut can cause the tendons to separate, which makes it unlikely that you will be capable of moving your fingers.

You can also experience a flexor tendon injury if a tendon becomes completely separated from the bone. This usually transpires if there is a significant pull of the finger. This particular injury can occur through participation in certain sports such as wrestling, rugby, and football, as there is an increased risk of having a finger pulled excessively during those activities.

Anyone who contends with rheumatoid arthritis can also be susceptible to experiencing a flexor tendon issue because the condition increases the likelihood that a tendon will tear.

Symptoms

If you have experienced a cut in the palm of your hand you will be aware that this has taken place. That should alert you to the possibility of a flexor tendon issue. If this scenario develops, then you may have difficulty when you attempt to bend your hand. You might also encounter pain when your finger is bent. Or, there could also be tenderness in your fingers or palm. In some cases, patients will also contend with numbness.

If you encounter a situation in which your finger was pulled – whether it is during a sporting activity or any other situation – then you will also be at increased risk of incurring a flexor tendon injury. Since this could result in having your tendon separated from the bone, your ability to move your finger will be impacted. Discomfort, tenderness, and numbness are also indications that you are contending with a flexor tendon injury due to the pulled finger.

What A Doctor Will Do

If you have experienced a crack in your hand or your fingers, it is recommended that you place ice on the impacted area immediately. It is also beneficial to wrap your hand in a bandage in order to reduce the level of bleeding. At that point, it is also wise to seek immediate medical attention.

When you visit your physician, he or she will ask a series of questions in order to determine the specifics of your situation. This will include your medical history, your family’s medical history, and the exact symptoms that you are experiencing.

He or she will also ask that you attempt to straighten and bend any fingers that have been impacted by a cut or pull. This will allow your physician to determine how effectively you can make normal hand movements. 

He or she will also discuss any other medical issues that might make you more vulnerable to experiencing your current discomfort. It is also possible that your doctor will order x-rays in order to verify the correct diagnosis.

Treatment

In many cases, your flexor tendon may have been cut or pulled sufficiently for your doctor to believe that surgery is required. If that scenario occurs, then a surgical procedure will repair the torn or separated tendon – regardless of whether it is the result of a cut or a pull. This will increase your flexibility and allow you to regain the motion of your hand.

Your hand might also be placed in a splint following surgery since this will safeguard your hand from any additional problems during the healing process. Therapy might also be recommended after you have recovered from the surgery.

At Orthopedic Associates, We Can Help

If you have any questions or concerns about any form on an injury that might have occurred with your hand. or if you need to talk with an experienced hand doctor about any other issue, the specialists at Orthopedic Associates understand how pain in your hand or wrist can affect your daily activities.

We also know that each hand and wrist injury must be approached with the utmost care, regardless of what type of injury you have suffered. At Orthopedic Associates, we are also dedicated to making sure that you recover fully so that you can return to depending on your hand and wrist as you did previously.

Hand doctor Kent F. Dickson, M.D is committed to providing effective, compassionate, and timely care. His expertise in educating our patients on how they can avoid future problems is also beneficial.

Here is the list of hand and wrist problems that we can help you with at Orthopedic Associates:

• Animal Bites to the Hand
• Basal Joint Osteoarthritis
• Boutonniere Deformity
• Boxer’s Fracture
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Colles Fractures
• Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
• De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis
• Digital Mucous Cysts
• Distal Radius Fracture (Broken Wrist)
• Dupuytren’s Disease
• Finger Dislocation/Felon
• Fingertip Injuries
• Flexor Tendon Injuries
• Fractures of the Finger/Hand (Metacarpal Fractures)
• Ganglion Cysts of the Hand
• Kienbock’s Disease
• Mallet Finger
• Nerve Injuries of the Hand
• Osteoarthritis of the Hand
• Osteomyelitis
• Paronychia
• Polydactyly of the Hand
• Raynaud’s Phenomenon and Disease
• Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) of the Hand
• Scaphoid Fractures
• Swan Neck Deformity
• Syndactyly of the Hand
• Thumb Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL) Injury
• Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex (TFCC) Tears
• Trigger Digit
• Volar Plate Injuries
• Wrist Sprain

Our orthopedic experts are also highly experienced in performing many different treatments and surgeries for the hand & wrist:

• About Surgery of the Hand
• Absorbable Antibiotic Bead Treatment for Osteomyelitis
• Anesthesia
• Anesthesia (Regional)
• Artificial Joint Replacement of the Finger
• Basal Joint Surgery
• Biologics Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Carpal Tunnel Release (Open Technique)
• Cold Laser Therapy
• Computed Tomography (CT) Scan
• De Quervain’s Release
• Digital Mucous Cyst Excision
• Digital Nerve Repair
• Distal Radius Fracture Repair with Volar Plate
• Electromyography (EMG)
• Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel Release
• Finger Felon Drainage
• Finger Fracture Fixation
• Finger Joint Fusion (DIP Joint)
• Ganglion Cyst Removal
• Joint Synovectomy
• Limited Palmar Fasciectomy for Dupuytren’s Contracture
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
• Multimodal Anesthesia and Pain Control
• Needle Aponeurotomy for Dupuytren’s Contracture
• Nerve Conduction Study (NCS)
• Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan
• Scaphoid Fracture Open Reduction and Internal Fixation (ORIF)
• Tendon Repair
• Trigger Digit Release
• Wrist Arthroscopy
• Wrist Fusion (Total Wrist Arthrodesis)

If you are experiencing a problem with your hand or wrist, we encourage you to visit one of the Orthopedic Associates’ two locations or request an appointment today. We will help guide you down the path of feeling better.