How to Heal Tendon Lacerations in the Wrist

A tendon is a band of tissue that connects muscle to bone. Tendons in your wrist allow you to move your hand and fingers. Tendons are often lacerated, or cut, by knives, tools or broken glass. An injury to a tendon can mean the loss of that tendon forever unless it is quickly repaired. Most tendon lacerations require surgery and a healing regimen.

Things You'll Need

• Splint
• Hand therapist
• Exercises

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Instructions

• 1

  Visit a doctor immediately after your injury. Wrist tendon lacerations need to be examined as soon as possible by a doctor with expert knowledge in hand trauma. A tendon laceration in your wrist can immobilize your hands and fingers. Surgery should ideally be done in the first 24 hours after the injury. A delay between your injury and first seeing the doctor could result in a longer healing time or complete loss of motion in your wrist or hand.

• 2

  Begin a gentle exercise program immediately after surgery. Your hand will most likely be in a splint or cast for several weeks. You must follow a specific pattern of hand rehabilitation movements given to you by your doctor. Not moving your hand at all will cause scar tissue to build up, impeding the function of your wrist. Moving your hand too much too soon after surgery could re-injure the tendons.

• 3

  See a certified hand therapist. The hand therapist will develop a program for involving custom splints and special exercises that will help you regain motion in your wrist and hand. The therapist's exercises will help build grip strength and soften scar tissue. The therapist will start off slowly and add more rigorous exercise as time goes by. It is important that you see the therapist regularly and follow her exercises daily. Without regular physical therapy, you may not be able to move your hand or wrist.