Hand Tendon Surgery in san antonio
From hand tendonitis to complete tendon tears, our board-certified hand specialists diagnose and treat every type of hand tendon damage, offering both non-surgical treatment and advanced surgical repair.
-
100+
Years Collective Experience
-
4
Board-Certified Surgeons
-
1-2 hrs
Typical Surgery Duration
-
Non-Surgical First
When Clinically Appropriate
Understanding Hand Tendons and Ligaments
What to Know About Hand Tendon Injuries
Your hand relies on a complex network of tendons and ligaments working together with bones and muscles to allow precise movement, grip strength, and dexterity. Tendons connect muscle to bone and allow your fingers, thumb, and wrist to bend and straighten. Ligaments connect bone to bone, stabilizing the joints of the hand.
Because tendons and ligaments serve different roles, an injury to one versus the other can produce very different symptoms, and often requires a different treatment approach. A hand and upper extremity specialist can determine exactly which structures are involved and recommend the right course of care.
What Causes Hand Tendon Damage?
Hand tendon damage can develop suddenly from an injury or gradually from repetitive strain.
Lacerations - Cuts from knives, glass, or machinery that sever a tendon.
Repetitive Strain - Overuse from typing, manual labor, or sports leading to tendonitis.
Sports Injuries - Jamming or forcefully bending a finger, common in ball sports.
Degenerative Wear - Age-related thinning or fraying of tendon tissue.
Inflammatory Conditions - Rheumatoid arthritis and similar conditions affecting tendon health.
Signs and Symptoms of Hand Tendon Damage:
Pain with Movement
Swelling or Tenderness
Inability to Bend or Straighten a Finger
Catching or Locking
Popping Sensation
Stiffness
When Is Hand Tendon
Surgery Needed?
Hand tendon surgery may be recommended when a tendon has been completely torn, cut during a laceration, or damaged to the point that it can no longer properly move or support the finger or hand. Before recommending surgery, your hand specialist will evaluate the severity of the tendon injury, your symptoms, and how the condition is affecting your ability to use your hand. Factors may include:
Whether the tendon is partially or fully torn
How the injury occurred (laceration vs. gradual wear)
Response to splinting, injections, and hand therapy
Which tendon and finger are involved
Most hand tendon repair surgeries are performed as outpatient procedures, allowing patients to return home the same day. Recovery often includes a customized rehabilitation plan and hand therapy to protect the repaired tendon while gradually restoring movement and function.
What Happens During Hand Tendon Surgery?
One | Evaluation & Imaging
A thorough exam, and imaging such as ultrasound or MRI when needed, confirms the extent of tendon damage.
Two | Surgical Repair
The torn or damaged tendon ends are reconnected using specialized sutures, or reconstructed with a tendon graft in complex cases.
Three | Splinting
The hand is splinted in a protected position, holding the repair still so it can heal fully without excess tension on the tendon.
FOur | Guided Rehabilitation
A structured hand therapy program restores motion and strength gradually as the repair heals.
Meet your Hand Specialist
Dr. David W. Person
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with a Subspecialty Certification in Hand Surgery | 2023, 2025 & 2026 Top Doc, San Antonio Magazine
Dr. Person is a specialist in hand and wrist surgery, reconstructive plastic surgery, and reconstructive microsurgery, with particular expertise in endoscopic carpal tunnel surgery. Board certified in plastic surgery with a subspecialty certification in hand surgery, he is dedicated to helping patients regain function and return to the activities they love.
why come to The Hand and Upper Extremity Center of San Antonio for your Hand Tendon Surgery?
When you visit us at The Hand and Upper Extremity Center of San Antonio, you will find a fine-tuned team ready to take care of you. Your physicians have over 100 years of collective experience and represent multiple generations and training backgrounds. In addition to your surgeons, you may meet one of our hand surgery fellows, each a fully trained orthopaedic or plastic surgeon who has chosen to spend an additional year studying hand & wrist surgery. From the front desk staff and medical assistants to our x-ray and cast technicians, every team member is committed to your care.
Don't Let Hand Pain Limit You
Whether it's hand tendonitis or a tendon injury that needs surgical repair, our specialists will build a treatment plan around your goals.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hand Tendon Surgery
-
Tendons connect muscle to bone and allow the fingers, thumb, and wrist to move. Ligaments connect bone to bone and stabilize the joints of the hand. Because they play different roles, damage to a tendon versus a ligament often produces different symptoms and requires a different treatment approach. Our specialists evaluate both structures during every hand exam to determine the correct diagnosis.
-
Hand tendon damage can cause pain, swelling, weakness, or an inability to fully bend or straighten a finger. In cases of a complete tendon tear, patients often notice they cannot move the affected finger or thumb at all. If you experience sudden loss of movement after an injury, it's important to be evaluated promptly, delayed treatment can make tendon repair more difficult.
-
Most hand tendonitis responds well to non-surgical treatment, including activity modification, splinting, anti-inflammatory medication, and hand therapy. Corticosteroid injections can provide additional relief for persistent cases. Surgery is generally only considered when conservative treatment fails to resolve symptoms after several months.
-
Recovery time depends on the location and severity of the tendon injury, but most patients are in a protective splint for several weeks, followed by a structured hand therapy program. Many patients see significant improvement in grip strength and motion within 8 to 12 weeks, with continued improvement over several months.
-
Partial tendon tears may heal with splinting and therapy, depending on the tendon involved and the severity of the tear. Complete tendon tears, however, generally require surgical repair, since the separated tendon ends will not reconnect on their own. Our specialists will confirm the extent of the injury with a physical exam and imaging before recommending a treatment path.
-
We accept most major insurance plans at our San Antonio office, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Humana, Medicare, TriCare, and United Healthcare. Our team verifies your coverage before any procedure, and we offer CareCredit financing for out-of-pocket costs.
-
Yes, we regularly see patients from across the greater San Antonio region, including New Braunfels, Schertz, Converse, Seguin, and Boerne. Our office is conveniently located near Loop 410 in the medical district.
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.
OTHER Hand & Wrist RELATED ISSUES WE CAN HELP WITH
check out our latest blog posts regarding Hand injuries
