Tendon Repair Surgery in Pune: Repairing Cut Hand Tendons

What is a tendon injury?

Tendons are strong cords that connect muscles in the forearm to the bones of the fingers, thumb and wrist. In the hand they lie just under the skin, so a cut from glass, a knife, a tin lid or machinery can easily divide them.

• Flexor tendons run on the palm side and bend the fingers and thumb.
• Extensor tendons run on the back of the hand and straighten them.

Signs of a cut tendon include being unable to bend or straighten a finger joint, a finger that rests in an unusual position compared with the others, and weakness or pain on gripping. A nerve or artery is often cut at the same time, causing numbness or a pale fingertip.

Why does early repair matter?

The cut ends of a tendon pull apart as the muscle contracts. Within a few weeks they shorten and soften, and the tunnel they glide through starts to scar, making direct repair harder or impossible. Any cut on the hand with loss of movement or numbness should be assessed by a hand surgeon promptly.

Who may benefit, and how is the injury assessed?

The surgeon tests each finger joint, checks sensation and circulation, and examines the wound. An X-ray is taken if a fracture or a piece of glass is suspected. The level of the cut, described in zones, guides how the repair is done and how the hand is rehabilitated.

What are the treatment options?

Option	Suits	Points to consider
Primary repair	Clean cuts seen early	The standard treatment
Splint only	Some partial cuts and closed extensor injuries such as mallet finger	Strict splint wear for weeks
Tendon graft	Delayed injuries where ends cannot be joined	Tendon taken from the forearm or leg
Two-stage reconstruction	Scarred tunnels after late presentation	Rod placed first, graft months later
Tendon transfer	Tendons that cannot be repaired	A working tendon is rerouted

Nerve and vessel injuries found at the same time are repaired in the same operation; see nerve repair surgery and vessel repair surgery.

How is tendon repair performed?

1. Anaesthesia: a regional block or general anaesthesia; wide-awake local anaesthesia allows the surgeon to watch active movement during surgery.
2. Exploration: the wound is extended to find the retracted tendon ends.
3. Repair: the ends are joined with strong core stitches and a fine running stitch around the outside to help gliding.
4. Associated repairs: nerves and arteries are repaired under magnification if needed.
5. Splint: a protective splint holds the wrist and fingers in a safe position.

How should you prepare, and what should you ask?

• Keep the hand raised and the wound covered after injury.
• Do not try to test the finger by forcing it.
• Plan time for regular hand therapy visits over several weeks.

Questions to ask:

• Which tendons and nerves are injured?
• How long must I wear the splint, and what can I do with the hand?
• When can I drive, work and lift?
• What exercises should I do at home?

What is recovery like?

Time	What to expect for most patients
Days 1-5	Hand raised; splint on; therapy starts with protected movement
Weeks 1-6	Splint worn; exercises several times a day as taught
Weeks 6-8	Splint reduced; light use of the hand
About 12 weeks	Gradual return to heavy use and sport
Months 3-6	Movement and strength continue to improve

What are the risks?

• Adhesions: the tendon sticks to nearby tissue, limiting movement; sometimes a later release (tenolysis) helps.
• Rupture of the repair.
• Stiffness of finger joints.
• Infection of the wound.
• Scar sensitivity and swelling.
• Complex regional pain syndrome, uncommon.

Seek prompt review if you suddenly cannot move the finger after repair, or for fever, increasing pain or wound discharge.

What results can you expect?

With early repair and committed hand therapy, many people regain useful movement and return to work. Results are generally better for extensor than flexor tendons, and better when the injury is clean and treated early.

What happens if a cut tendon is left untreated?

A completely cut flexor tendon does not rejoin on its own. The muscle pulls the upper end back into the palm or forearm, and the finger stays unable to bend at the affected joint, weakening grip. An extensor tendon cut over the last finger joint leaves a drooping fingertip (mallet finger); over the middle joint, the finger can gradually bend into a fixed position (boutonnière deformity). A partly cut tendon may hold for a while but can catch or snap later with use. A splint alone is reasonable for selected partial cuts and closed extensor injuries such as mallet finger. For a complete cut, waiting usually turns a direct stitch into a graft or a two-stage operation.

Common myths about tendon injuries

• “If I can still move the finger a little, the tendon is fine.” Each finger has more than one tendon, so it can still move partly when one tendon is fully cut, and only a careful examination can tell.
• “A small skin cut cannot damage a tendon.” Hand tendons lie just under the skin, so even a short cut from glass or a knife can divide a tendon, nerve or artery.
• “Oil massage and a tight bandage will join the tendon.” Massage and bandaging cannot bring the retracted ends back together.
• “Once the tendon is stitched, the hand can be used normally.” The repair is weak for the first weeks and can snap if the splint is removed early or the hand grips hard.

What affects the cost of tendon repair surgery in Pune?

• Number of tendons and whether nerves or arteries are also injured.
• Timing: early primary repair or delayed reconstruction.
• Anaesthesia and theatre time.
• Splints and hand therapy sessions.

Treatment after an injury is often covered by health or accident insurance, subject to your policy.