Rupture of the extensor tendons of the hand

Extensors are located directly on the bone, under the skin. This arrangement makes them vulnerable to almost any, even minor, cuts. Closed injuries are also possible - the tendon is torn off at the place of its attachment to the bone of the nail and middle phalanges.

An injury to the extensor tendon is fraught primarily with loss of motor function of the fingers or hand. Treatment depends on the type of injury: with an open rupture, the tendons are stitched together, with a closed one, a rigid splint is applied to the finger in such a way as to bring the ends of the damaged tendon as close as possible so that they heal. The wearing time of the splint is directly proportional to the time elapsed from the moment of injury to the fixation of the tendon.

The most common extensor injuries at finger level are the tendon tearing from the nail phalanx, which causes the finger to stop fully flexing; in some cases, the separation is accompanied by chipping (?) a bone fragment. At the level of the hand and forearm, extensors are most often damaged as a result of cuts, and treatment requires careful and painstaking surgical repair - with just one cut of the wrist, 11 tendons can be damaged at once.

A rupture of the extensor tendons is often accompanied by concomitant injuries: fractures, joint injuries, and skin damage. These "additional" injuries can significantly complicate and slow down the healing process, and the formed scar tissue can further limit the mobility of the finger. In some cases, repeated surgery is indicated to release a tendon fused to the skin or bone.

Extensor surgeries should be performed only by highly qualified doctors specializing specifically in hand surgery, since 99% of the success of treatment depends on the professionalism of the doctor.