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Beverly Hills
9301 Wilshire Boulevard
Beverly Hills, California 90210
West Hills
7301 Medical Center Drive
West Hills, California 91307
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Injuries to the Extensor Tendon
Causes of Injury
Treatment of the Extensor Tendon
Recovery & Therapy
The extensor tendons are attached to muscles in your forearm and run
across the back of your hands into your fingers. These tendons enable
you to straighten your fingers and thumbs. Inside the fingers, the
tendons are thin and flat and are joined by smaller ones that attach
to the hand muscles and permit coordinated fine finger movements.
| Causes of Injury |
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Since the extensor tendons sit above the bone, just beneath the skin,
they are in a vulnerable position and can be easily injured, even
by something as minor as a small cut. These tendons can also be detached
from the bone. Detachment of extensor tendons can happen when a finger,
for example, gets jammed. When this happens, patients find it difficult
to straighten their knuckles. Individuals who have injured their extensor
tendons find treatment to be, not only necessary, but extremely helpful.
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| Treatment of the Extensor Tendon |
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If a tendon is cut, it may require stitches. However, splints are
used to treat most tears that result from jamming one's fingers. Using
a splint will keep the end of the tendon that is healing from pulling
out of place. Splints have to be worn all of the time until complete
healing of the tendon is achieved. Typically, your hand surgeon will
place the splint in the proper location. When necessary, surgeons
place a pin through the bone across the joint so as to serve as an
internal splint.
If the extensor tendon has been cut, has come off the bone, or has
pulled part of the bone off, the fingertip on the finger affected
will droop. This condition is called "mallet finger", and
is usually treated with a splint that keeps the fingertip straight
until the tendon heals. If the tendon was cut, stitches may be required
to repair the injury. The length of time the splint needs to be worn
and how big it is depends on how and where the tendon was injured,
but the splint should be kept on for the four to eight weeks or more
it takes for complete healing. If the splint is taken off any earlier
than the amount of time recommended by your hand surgeon, the fingertip
may droop again and need more splinting.
Other times when the extensor tendon is cut or torn, the middle joint
of the finger may bend down in a flexed position, called a boutonnière
deformity. This condition may also require the use of stitches, but
a splint to hold the middle joint straight is necessary to complete
the process. If the splint isn't worn continually, for approximately
four to eight weeks, the finger can bend down even more and become
fixed in that position.
If the extensor tendon was injured because of a cut on the back of
the hand, it may be difficult or impossible to straighten out the
finger at the large knuckle where the finger meets the hand. An injury
like this, in addition to a splint, usually requires stitches to hold
the ends of the tendon together. The splint may hold both the finger
and wrist in place or it may be a dynamic splint, which allows the
fingers to move a little while still protecting the tendon until it
heals.
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| Recovery & Therapy |
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As it heals, the extensor tendon may attach itself to a bone or scar
tissue in the area of the injury. Because other factors, such as infections
or fractures, play a role, each injury is unique. Even when a patient
receives the best possible treatment, the formation of scar tissue
may restrict the ability to bend or straighten the fingers. Therapy
can greatly improve finger motion; surgery can remove or free the
scar tissue that is keeping the fingers in place. When one of our
hand surgeons discusses your particular case with you, he will explain
the risks, results, and side effects that you should expect from your
course of treatment.
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We serve the following cities within Los Angeles,
which are in close proximity to our offices:
Agoura Hills, Brentwood, Canoga Park, Century City, Chatsworth,
Culver City, Glendale, Granada Hills, Hollywood, Los Angeles,
Marina Del Rey, North Hollywood, Northridge, Rancho Park, Reseda,
Santa Monica, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Tarzana, Valencia, Van
Nuys, West Hills, West Hollywood, West L.A., Winnetka, Woodland
Hills
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