Flexor Tendon Laceration Experts in San Antonio
What Is a Flexor Tendon Laceration?
A flexor tendon laceration occurs when one of the tendons that help bend your fingers or thumb is cut or torn. Flexor tendons run along the palm side of the hand and fingers and connect muscles in the forearm to the bones in your fingers.
These tendons allow you to bend your fingers to grip, hold objects, or make a fist. When a tendon is damaged, the finger may no longer bend properly, and hand function can be severely limited.
Flexor tendon injuries most commonly occur in the fingers but can also affect the thumb, palm, or wrist.
Causes of Flexor Tendon Injuries
Most flexor tendon injuries occur when a sharp object cuts through the skin and tendon. Because the flexor tendons lie just beneath the surface of the skin, they are vulnerable to injury.
Common causes include:
Cuts from glass, knives, or sharp tools
Workplace accidents involving machinery or equipment
Deep lacerations to the palm or fingers
Sports injuries involving contact or falls
Severe trauma to the hand or wrist
In some cases, a flexor tendon may also rupture due to excessive force or underlying tendon weakness.
Experiencing difficulty bending your finger after a deep cut or hand injury? At The Hand & Upper Extremity Center of San Antonio, our fellowship-trained hand specialists provide expert evaluation and personalized treatment for flexor tendon injuries. Using advanced surgical techniques and specialized rehabilitation, we focus on restoring finger movement, strength, and hand function so you can safely return to work, sports, and everyday activities.
Symptoms of a Flexor Tendon Laceration
-
Inability to Bend the Finger
The affected finger or thumb may no longer bend when you try to move it.
-
Pain in the Finger or Palm
Pain may occur at the site of the injury, particularly when attempting to move the finger.
-
Open Cut or Laceration
Many flexor tendon injuries occur with a visible wound on the palm side of the hand or finger.
-
Weak Grip Strength
Damage to the tendon can make it difficult to hold objects or grip firmly.
-
Numbness or Tingling
If nearby nerves are injured, you may experience changes in sensation.
-
Swelling Around the Finger or Palm
The injured area may appear swollen due to inflammation or trauma to the tendon.
Flexor Tendon Injury Treatment in San Antonio
Prompt treatment is essential for restoring hand function after a flexor tendon laceration. At the Hand & Upper Extremity Center of San Antonio, treatment plans are tailored to each patient based on the severity and location of the injury.
Surgical Repair
Most flexor tendon injuries require surgery to reconnect the torn tendon. During this procedure, a hand surgeon carefully stitches the tendon back together to restore normal movement.
Surgery is typically performed soon after the injury to achieve the best results.
Rehabilitation and Hand Therapy
After surgery, rehabilitation is critical for recovery. Our Certified Hand Therapists guide patients through specialized therapy programs designed to:
Protect the repaired tendon
Restore finger motion
Improve strength and flexibility
Prevent stiffness and scar tissue
Recovery often takes several weeks to months depending on the severity of the injury.
Why Choose The Hand & Upper Extremity Center of San Antonio for Flexor Tendon Injury Treatment?
When you choose The Hand & Upper Extremity Center of San Antonio for care after a flexor tendon injury, you’re trusting a team with extensive experience treating complex hand injuries. Our physicians bring more than 100 years of combined expertise in diagnosing and repairing tendon damage in the hand and fingers. Working closely with our Certified Hand Therapists and skilled clinical staff, we create personalized treatment and rehabilitation plans designed to restore finger movement, strength, and overall hand function. Our goal is to provide the highest level of care so you can safely return to work, daily activities, and the things you enjoy most.
Meet Our Physicians
-
David P. Green, M.D.
-
Mark Bagg, M.D.
-
David W. Person, M.D., F.A.C.S.
-
Ramesh C. Srinivasan, M.D.
Did you know we offer in-house therapy for Flexor Tendon Lacerations?
Hand therapy is a merging of occupational and physical therapy theory and practice that combines comprehensive knowledge of the structure of the upper limb with function and activity. Using specialized skills in assessment, planning and treatment, hand therapists provide therapeutic interventions to prevent dysfunction, restore function and/or reverse the progression of pathology of the upper limb in order to enhance an individual’s ability to execute tasks and to participate fully in life situations.
