What Are the Flexor and the Other Tendons ?
While the muscles that start from the elbow or forearm level, are going into the wrist or the bones of the fingers, they become thick strings called TENDONS. Tendons work as motor units that bend (flexion) or lift (extension) the wrist or fingers according to their insertions.
Flexor tendons can be injured either alone or in combination with nerves and vessels in lacerations at the level of the inner surfaces of the wrist, hand, and fingers. Although these injuries may be seem as simple and small from outside, they can be actually deep and complex problems.
In addition, tendons may be injured in crush injuries, penetrating traumas, gun-shot wounds or bite injuries. When any direct impacts into tip of the fingers would be happened, tendons may be closely ruptured even if there is no external open wound.
How do we know if our flexor tendon is damaged?
The finger is lost in its normal slight bending position and sits as completely in open position. In addition, the finger, where the tendon goes to, cannot be bent by the patient.
How are flexor tendon injuries treated?
If the tendon is completely cut, the tendon will not heal without surgery. Your doctor plans the surgery to repair the tendon as soon as possible. These tendons, which move in very narrow canals, and possible vascular and nerve injuries, are repaired precisely one by one in a proper way.
Physical Therapy and Hand Rehabilitation After Flexor Tendon Surgery
After surgery, specially designed splints are applied according to the type and area of the injury and special rehabilitation treatments are programmed for the tendon repair. Postoperative rehabilitation programs take about at least 4 to 6 weeks. The aims of this hand rehabilitation are to minimize the possible scar tissue formation which would develop around the healing tendon, to facilitate tendon healing, to ensure normal finger movements as before, and to prevent the rupture of the repair site again. The physician who performs the surgery and the rehabilitation team take the treatment process in close cooperation.