Having an injury to the hand or fingers can indicate a need for treatment of the tendons in the hand called flexor tendons. Most commonly these flexor tendon injuries occur from cuts and lacerations to a part of the forearm, hand or wrist causing difficulty bending the fingers and thumbs or wrist.
Since flexor tendons lie near the surface of the skin, a deeper cut typically results in injury to the tendon. With a partial tear, you may still have some movement of your arm, hand or fingers but it will be limited. At times you may experience numbness and tingling in the effected area signaling tendon injury.
What is a Flexor Tendon?
Tendons are tough cords of tissue that connect your muscles to the bone and power the muscles to move our bones. They help us bend our fingers and make a fist. They act similar to a rubber band that is holding tension to secure things in place. Tendons are housed inside a tunnel or tube-like compartment known as the tendon sheath, serving to keep the tendons in place adjacent to your bones.
The tendons that lie on the top of the hand are used to straighten the fingers and are called extensor tendons. The tendons on the palm side assist in bending the fingers and are known as flexor tendons.
When injured, it is important to see a hand surgeon immediately and to seek treatment early for your best functional outcomes. According to the 2010 study of functional outcomes, time elapsed from injury to surgery is one important indicator of how well you will recover movement and feeling. (1). The shorter the time lapse, the better your chances for improvement.
Dr. Jason Ashford, board certified hand surgeon is here to meet your needs in the greater Houston and Conroe, Texas area with prompt diagnosis and treatment.
