A Small Injury With Lasting Consequences
A finger tendon injury can affect far more than one movement. Bending or straightening a finger may become difficult, making it harder to grip objects, dress, prepare food, or manage other everyday tasks.
Flexor tendons run along the palm side and help bend the fingers. Extensor tendons help straighten them. The tendon involved determines which movement is impaired, and some injuries may also affect nearby structures.
Treatment and recovery depend on the tendon, the severity and location of the injury, and how soon it is assessed. A board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in hand and upper-extremity surgery, such as Rebecca S. Yu, MD, can evaluate an injury and discuss appropriate care in Berkeley. The information in this article is general and is not an individual diagnosis or treatment plan.
Recognizing a Torn Finger Tendon
A torn tendon may limit how far a finger bends or straightens, depending on which tendon is injured. A complete tear can prevent movement at the affected joint, while a partial tear may leave some motion, sometimes with pain or catching. Being able to move the finger does not rule out tendon damage.
Symptoms can include pain with movement, tenderness, swelling, bruising, or a popping sensation when the injury occurs. A cut on the palm side of a finger, hand, or wrist may also be present. Even a small-looking wound can reach and damage a tendon. Numbness, or a finger that looks pale or feels cold, may signal injury to nearby nerves or blood vessels and needs prompt assessment.
A hand specialist will ask how the injury happened and review symptoms and relevant medical history. During the examination, the clinician may ask you to bend and straighten individual fingers, then check tenderness, strength, sensation, and blood flow. The pattern of movement can help identify which tendon or joint may be affected.
X-rays can show a fracture or other bone damage, but they do not show tendons well. If the examination leaves uncertainty about whether a tendon is torn or how extensive the injury is, further assessment may be needed. The American Academy of Family Physicians’ guidance on acute finger injuries describes examination of active movement and sensation alongside radiographs.
Seek prompt medical care after a finger injury if you cannot bend or straighten it normally, have an open cut, notice numbness, or see a change in color or temperature. Dr. Rebecca S. Yu, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in hand and upper extremity care in Berkeley, where an evaluation can help determine the injury and appropriate next steps.
Choosing Treatment and Timing Repair
A finger tendon that is completely torn usually needs treatment rather than being left to heal on its own. The separated ends can pull apart, making it difficult to bend or straighten the finger. The right approach depends on which tendon is injured and whether the damage is partial or complete. Some partial injuries can be treated with a splint and supervised hand therapy, while complete ruptures commonly require surgery.
Prompt assessment by a hand specialist matters because a tendon can retract after injury, making direct repair more difficult. The Health Service Executive’s guidance on hand tendon repair describes early repair as a way to help reduce scarring, stiffness, and loss of movement. Dr. Rebecca S. Yu, MD, is a board-certified hand and upper-extremity surgeon in Berkeley who evaluates injuries and discusses treatment options based on the individual tendon and damage.
When surgery is appropriate, the surgeon locates the damaged tendon ends and stitches them together. If the ends cannot be joined directly, a tendon graft or reconstruction may be considered. Not every injury calls for the same procedure, and surgery is not the only option for every partial tear.
After repair, a splint helps protect the tendon while it heals. Carefully directed hand therapy supports controlled movement and recovery, but the exercises and their timing depend on the injury and repair. Dr. Yu’s care focuses on hand and upper-extremity conditions, with treatment choices guided by clinical assessment rather than a single standard plan.
Until you are assessed, protect and elevate the hand and avoid forcing the finger to move. Seek prompt care if you cannot bend or straighten it normally, particularly after a cut or forceful injury.
What to Expect During and After Surgery
Finger tendon repair often takes about one to two hours, depending on the injury’s location and severity and whether nearby structures also need attention. Flexor tendon repair is commonly performed under regional or general anesthesia; the choice depends on the procedure and the patient. The Health Service Executive’s overview of hand tendon repair describes these anesthesia options.
You should not feel pain during surgery. Afterward, pain, swelling, and stiffness are common, particularly early in recovery. Elevating the hand, taking pain relief as prescribed or recommended, and wearing the protective splint as directed can help. Dr. Rebecca S. Yu is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in hand and upper-extremity care in Berkeley, where evaluation and treatment plans are based on the injury and the patient.
The repair remains vulnerable while it heals, so protect the hand and follow your surgeon’s instructions rather than testing its strength. Contact your treating team if pain worsens, redness or swelling increases, drainage or fever develops, or finger movement suddenly decreases. These changes warrant assessment, especially after a tendon repair.
Recovery Happens in Stages
Recovery after finger tendon repair commonly takes several months. The pace depends on the injury, whether the repaired tendon bends or straightens the finger, the demands of your work and activities, and how healing progresses.
Early recovery focuses on protecting the repair, often with a splint and restricted hand use. A hand therapist then guides controlled movement, with exercises and activity increasing gradually as healing allows. The plan matters: doing too much too soon can strain the repair, while movement should progress only as directed. The hand therapy guidance after tendon repair stresses following an individual therapist-led programme.
Many people may return gradually to light activities around six to eight weeks. Heavier work and sports can take about ten to twelve weeks or longer. Strength may take up to three months to return, while full finger motion can take as long as six months. These are broad estimates, not a promise or clearance for a particular task.
Dr. Rebecca S. Yu, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in hand and upper extremity surgery in Berkeley, works with patients on treatment decisions suited to their injury. Your surgeon and hand therapist will determine when specific movements, work duties, driving, or sports are safe to resume.
Protecting the Repair During Therapy
A hand therapist and surgeon set the rehabilitation plan together, based on which tendon was repaired and how it was stitched. Flexor and extensor repairs can need different splints, exercises, and schedules, so another patient’s instructions may not be right for you.
Prescribed, controlled movement helps limit stiffness and encourages the tendon to glide as it heals. Early exercises may involve guided finger bending and straightening within a splint. Later, the therapist may add active movement, hook or full fists, wrist motion, strengthening, and daily tasks as healing allows. The North Tees flexor tendon repair exercises are one example of a therapist-directed programme, not a substitute for your own instructions.
What activities should be avoided after finger tendon repair surgery? Do not use the hand for work, self-care, lifting, gripping, or other tasks unless your care team has cleared them. Avoid strenuous activity early in recovery. Keep the dressing and splint in place as instructed, and do not start, change, or advance exercises on your own. Excessive or incorrect movement can damage the repair; too little movement may also contribute to stiffness, so follow the plan rather than improvising.
Keep the wound and splint dry, and avoid submerging the hand in a bath, pool, or hot tub until the wound has healed and your care team says it is safe. Do not drive while taking narcotic pain medication. Smoking can impair healing, so ask your clinician for advice on stopping or reducing it during recovery.
What exercises and therapy are used after finger tendon repair surgery? Your therapist may progress you from protected motion to active movement, strengthening, and practical hand use as the repair heals. Rebecca S. Yu, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in hand and upper extremity surgery in Berkeley, and her care information emphasizes treatment tailored to the injury. Keep therapy appointments and ask the surgeon or therapist before changing activity, removing the splint, or progressing exercises. Contact the care team if the splint causes problems or finger movement suddenly changes.
Recognizing Repair Problems
A sudden snap or pop followed by new difficulty bending or straightening the finger may signal that a repair has ruptured. A snap is not always noticeable, so a sudden change in movement matters even without one. The Cambridge University Hospitals guidance on tendon repair advises prompt contact with the treating team if movement changes after surgery.
Limited motion does not automatically mean the tendon has re-torn. Stiffness and restricted movement can also develop when scar tissue binds the tendon to nearby structures, a problem called adhesion. A hand surgeon can assess the cause and decide whether the treatment plan needs to change. Dr. Rebecca S. Yu, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in hand and upper extremity care in Berkeley, where evaluation can help distinguish repair problems from other causes of reduced motion.
Contact the treating team promptly if pain or swelling is worsening, the area becomes red or increasingly tender, drainage appears, or you develop a fever. These symptoms may point to infection or another complication that needs attention. Until the care team advises otherwise, keep using the splint and follow the prescribed therapy plan. Do not stop exercises or add new ones on your own.
Understanding the Cost of Tendon Surgery
How much does finger tendon surgery cost? The price varies with the tendon involved, injury severity, surgical setting, insurance coverage, and whether more than one tendon needs repair.
One published in-office price list gives a starting price of $3,750 for flexor tendon repair of the hand or finger, plus $1,000 for each additional tendon or finger. It lists extensor tendon repair of the hand at $3,300, plus $500 per additional tendon. These figures are examples, not guaranteed estimates.
The listed procedure price may exclude related charges and may not match a patient’s insurance benefits. Your out-of-pocket cost depends on coverage, deductible, and where surgery takes place. Dr. Rebecca S. Yu, MD, a board-certified hand and upper-extremity surgeon in Berkeley, can assess the injury and help clarify treatment needs.
Request an individualized estimate from the surgeon’s office after evaluation and insurance confirmation. Ask what the estimate includes and whether additional tendons, facility, or other related charges may affect the final amount.
A Timely Assessment Guides the Next Step
Sudden loss of finger movement or a deep cut may signal tendon damage. Prompt assessment helps identify the injury and guide treatment; hand tendon repair depends on which tendon is involved and how it was damaged.
A hand specialist and therapist can tailor care and rehabilitation to help protect function during recovery. Contact your care team about new symptoms or questions, and do not change splinting or exercises without their guidance. Dr. Rebecca S. Yu, MD, is a board-certified hand and upper-extremity surgeon in Berkeley.
