Hand tendon repair

If any of the tendons in your hand are damaged, surgery may be needed to repair them. It can also help restore movement in the affected fingers or thumb.

What are tendons?

Tendons are tough cords of tissue that connect muscles to bones. When a group of muscles contract (tighten), the attached tendons will pull on certain bones. This'll allow you to make a wide range of movements.

There are 2 groups of tendons in the hand:

  • extensor tendons – run from the forearm, across the back of your hand to your fingers and thumb, allowing you to straighten your fingers and thumb
  • flexor tendons – run from your forearm, through your wrist and across the palm of your hand, allowing you to bend your fingers

Surgery can often be carried out to repair damage to both these groups of tendons.

When hand tendon repair is needed

Hand tendon repair is carried out when one or more tendons in your hand rupture or are cut, leading to loss of normal hand movements.

If your extensor tendons are damaged, you'll be unable to straighten one or more fingers. If your flexor tendons are damaged, you'll be unable to bend one or more fingers. Tendon damage can also cause pain and inflammation (swelling) in your hand.

In some cases, damage to the extensor tendons can be treated without the need for surgery. This may be done using a rigid support called a splint that’s worn around the hand.

Common causes of tendon injuries
  • cuts – cuts across the back or palm of your hand can result in injury to your tendons
  • animal and human bites can cause tendon damage
  • crushing injuries – jamming a finger in a door or crushing the hand in a car accident can divide or rupture a tendon
  • rheumatoid arthritis – can cause tendons to become inflamed, which in severe cases can lead to tendons rupturing

Sports injuries can also cause tendon injuries. For example:

  • extensor tendons can rupture when stubbing a finger, like when trying to catch a ball
  • flexor tendons can occasionally be pulled off the bone when grabbing an opponent's jersey, such as in rugby
  • the pulleys holding flexor tendons can rupture during activities that involve lots of strenuous gripping, like rock climbing

How hand tendons are repaired

Before the cut tendons in your hand are repaired, X-rays of your hand and forearm may be taken. This is to check for:

  • fragments of glass that may have cut the tendon
  • any other damage that needs to be repaired, like a fracture

Tendon repair isn't usually regarded as emergency surgery. But, it's generally carried out as quickly as possible after the injury – usually within a few days. This is because the longer the tendons remain ruptured, the more scarring will develop on the end of the tendons. This could reduce the range of your hand movement after surgery.

Depending on the nature of your injury, you may be given antibiotics and a tetanus jab before surgery. This'll help to prevent your hand becoming infected.

Extensor tendon repair

Extensor tendon repair is usually carried out either under a regional or a general anaesthetic.

For a regional anaesthetic, an injection is used to make part of your body totally numb. For hand surgery, regional anaesthetic is injected into the base of the neck or the top of the shoulder to numb the whole arm.

If your tendon was damaged as the result of a wound, the wound will be thoroughly cleaned. An incision may be made in your hand to make the wound larger. The two ends of the ruptured tendon will then be stitched together.

The wound will be closed with stitches. A rigid splint (a support to protect your hand) made of plaster will usually be fitted to stop you moving your hand and damaging the repaired tendons.

If nothing else has been damaged, extensor tendon repair surgery can take around 30 minutes to complete.

Flexor tendon repair

Flexor tendon repair is also usually carried out under either a regional or general anaesthetic.

A tourniquet will be wrapped around your upper arm to stop the blood circulating. This is so that bleeding at the wound doesn't make it difficult to see the relevant structures. A tourniquet is a cord or tight bandage that's used to constrict (squeeze) the arm and temporarily cut off the blood supply.

The surgeon will then extend the wound, or make an incision if there's no wound, to locate the damaged tendons. They'll bring the two ends of the damaged tendon together, before stitching them to each other.

The wound in the hand will be closed with stitches. A rigid plaster splint will usually be applied to protect the repaired tendons.

A simple flexor tendon repair takes 45 to 60 minutes. But, complex surgery for more severe injuries could take much longer.

Recovering from surgery

When you can return home after having hand surgery will depend on how badly your hand was damaged.

You may be able to go home on the same day, after you've recovered from any anaesthetic and arrangements have been made for your aftercare.

After the operation

If you had a general anaesthetic, you'll wake up in the recovery room after your operation. You may have an oxygen mask on your face and you may feel a bit drowsy.

If you had a regional or local anaesthetic, you'll be able to go back to the ward sooner. But, your arm will be numb and floppy for several hours.

It's normal for your hand to be elevated in a sling (a large, supportive bandage) to help reduce swelling.

Following the operation, your hand is likely to be bruised and swollen. When the anaesthetic wears off, it'll be painful. You may need to take painkillers, like ibuprofen, paracetamol or codeine for up to 2 weeks.

Before leaving hospital, you'll be advised to keep your hand above the level of your heart whenever possible. This'll help to reduce swelling. For example, you may be advised to raise your arm on cushions while seated or hold your arm up to your other shoulder while standing and walking.

You won't be able to drive for several weeks after the operation, so you'll need to arrange for someone to pick you up and take you home from the hospital. If you live on your own and you've had a general anaesthetic, you may be advised to stay in hospital overnight. You may also need to stay overnight if you need hand therapy in hospital before you go home.

Recovery and rehabilitation

Before you leave hospital, a hand therapist may replace the rigid plaster splint. This is a support designed to protect the hand fitted during the operation. Instead, you may be given a lighter and more flexible plastic one. This splint will help to prevent the repaired tendons from being overstretched.

You'll usually be advised to wear the splint at all times for 3 to 6 weeks. You may then need to wear it at night for a further couple of weeks.

Your hand therapist will tell you how to look after your splint and what to do if you develop any problems with it. It's important to avoid getting the splint wet, so covering it with a plastic bag while having a bath or shower will usually be recommended.

You'll be taught some different hand exercises after the operation, either before you leave hospital or at an appointment a few days later. The exercises will help prevent the repaired tendons getting stuck to surrounding tissue. This would reduce your range of hand movements.

The specific exercises recommended by your hand therapist or surgeon will vary according to the type of tendon repair you had.

If you smoke, it's highly recommended that you stop. Smoking can impair the blood circulation in your hand and delay your recovery time.

Read more about stopping smoking

Returning to work and activities

How quickly you can return to work and resume normal daily activities will depend on the nature of your job, as well as the type and location of your injury.

The repaired tendon will usually be back to full strength after about 12 weeks. But, it can take up to 6 months to regain the full range of movement. In some cases, it may never be possible to move the affected finger or thumb as much as before it was damaged.

In general, most people are able to:

  • resume light activities, like using a keyboard or writing with a pen, after 6 to 8 weeks
  • drive a car, motorcycle or heavy goods vehicle (HGV) after 8 to 10 weeks
  • resume medium activities, like light lifting or shelf stacking, after 8 to 10 weeks
  • resume heavy activities, like heavy lifting or building work, after 10 to 12 weeks
  • resume sporting activities after 10 to 12 weeks

Your hand therapist or surgeon will be able to give you a more detailed estimate of your likely recovery time.

It's vital that you follow all the instructions and advice given to you about the use of your hands during your recovery period. If you attempt to use the repaired tendons before they've fully healed, it could cause the repair to rupture (break or split).

Results

After an extensor tendon repair you should have a working finger or thumb, but you may not regain full movement. The outcome is often better when the injury is a clean cut to the tendon, rather than one that involves crushing or damage to the bones and joints.

A flexor tendon injury is generally more serious because they're often put under more strain than extensor tendons. After a flexor tendon repair, it's quite common for some fingers to not regain full movement. However, the tendon repair will still give a better result than not having surgery.

Complications

Some common complications of tendon repair include:

  • infection
  • the tendon rupturing
  • the repaired tendon sticking to nearby tissue

Infection

An infection develops after about 1 in every 20 tendon repair operations.

The risk is of infection is highest if:

  • the hand is damaged
  • the wound is contaminated by dirt
  • there has been a crushing injury

Most infections can be successfully treated with antibiotics.

Non-urgent advice: Speak to your GP if you develop signs of an infection like:

  • redness in the hand
  • swelling in the hand
  • increasing tenderness or pain
  • a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or above

Repair failure

After about 1 in every 20 tendon repair operations, the repair fails and the affected tendon ruptures.

When this happens, it usually occurs soon after the operation, when the tendon is weakest. Tendon ruptures often happen in people who do not follow the advice about resting the affected tendon. Accidental trips, falls or suddenly catching your splint on an object can also rupture the tendon.

Sometimes, it's obvious you have ruptured the tendon because you notice a sudden snapping or ‘pinging’ sensation in your hand. However, you may not notice the tendon has ruptured until you discover that you cannot move your finger or fingers in the same way as before.

If you think your tendon has ruptured, contact your surgical team or hand therapist. Further surgery is usually needed to repair the tendon.

Tendon adhesion

Tendon adhesion is a medical term that means the tendons have become stuck to surrounding tissue and have lost some of their range of movement.

This can cause loss of movement, which in most cases is minor. More serious cases of tendon adhesion need surgery to free the stuck tendon.

Contact your surgical team or hand therapist if you notice a reduction in your ability to move your hand while you recover from surgery.

NHS 24 Logo

Source: NHS 24 - Opens in new browser window

Last updated:
20 February 2023

Also on NHS inform

Other health sites