Extensor Tendon Injuries

There are 27 bones and almost as many muscles in the human hand, yet they can't function properly without the extensor tendons. Even a minor extensor tendon injury can cripple hand dexterity and finger movement. And ignoring the problem will only make it worse.

Facts

• The extensor tendons are located along the backs of the hands and fingers. Attached to muscles in the forearms, extensor tendons are responsible for straightening the fingers and thumb. They're also connected to the surrounding muscles, allowing for more complicated and delicate finger movements.

Symptoms

• An injury to the extensor tendons makes it difficult to straighten the fingers or thumb. The fingers or thumb will often droop, with any attempts to straighten them triggering pain.

Causes

• Extensor tendon injuries are always due to some form of trauma. Their exposed location along the backs of the hands and fingers leaves them susceptible to injury, with even minor cuts capable of inflicting serious damage. Jamming fingers can also cause the tendons to rip or detach from the bone.

Types

• When an extensor tendon injury causes the last joint of a finger to droop, the condition is called mallet finger. If the injury causes the finger to bend downwards at the middle knuckle, it's called Boutonniere deformity.

Treatments

• It's important to treat an extensor tendon injury as soon as possible. If left untreated, the injured tendon can develop scar tissue that can stick to the bone and make straightening the finger all the more difficult.

  If the extensor tendon injury is due to a cut, stitches will be required to repair the damage. However, if a tear develops due to jamming the fingers, the injury is treated with a simple splint. The splint immobilizes the tendon, holding it in place and giving it a chance to properly heal. In more severe instances, a pin may be inserted into the bones to hold the tendon in place. A splint is then worn to further aid the healing process.

  On average, an extensor tendon injury takes between four and eight weeks to heal. The total recovery time depends upon the location and severity of the injury. If surgery is needed, the injured tendon typically doesn't regain full strength for three months, and normal movement may not return for up to six months.

  Physical therapy is vital to the rehabilitation process following surgery. The tendon must be moved to prevent it from sticking to the surrounding tissues. Yet moving it too much can break the surgical repair. That's why it's best to leave the exercises to a professional hand therapist.