Minos Ε. Tyllianakis MD, PhD

Flexor tendons flex (‘bend’) the fingers. Each finger has two (superficialis and deep or profundus) whilst thumb has only one. Ruptures are usually the result of trauma that may also include an injury to the digital neurovascular structures. Spontaneous ruptures can occur in long standing inflammatory diseases (ie rheumatoid arthritis).

Complete ruptures are treated surgically whereas partial ones may be treated conservatively. Surgical repair requires microsurgical expertise and is carried out with fine instruments and sutures. If both tendons are torn, repair can be done to one or both. Every operative technique is followed by a detailed program of supervised mobilization that lasts about 12 weeks. Co-operative patients have the best results.

The most common postoperative complications are re-rupture of the tendon –making re-repair of the tendon mandatory – and development of adhesions that restrain finger motion. In both cases the expected outcome is poor.