TENDON REPAIR. TIME-CRITICAL SURGERY.
Tendons that flex or straighten the fingers can snap or be cut in an instant. The sooner they are repaired, the better the chances of a full functional recovery. Do not wait.
ABOUT THIS INJURY
Flexor tendons curl the fingers toward the palm; extensor tendons straighten them. Either can be injured through lacerations to the wrist, forearm, palm or fingers, through forceful trauma in sport or accidents, or through spontaneous rupture in patients with rheumatoid arthritis where weakened tissue is more prone to tearing.
The most common presentation is a cut to the hand — often seemingly minor — that severs one or more tendons. The result is a finger that will not bend or straighten. Surgery needs to be performed as soon as possible: delayed presentation significantly complicates repair and may require a more involved two-stage reconstruction.
The procedure involves exploring the wound, locating the cut ends of the tendon and repairing them with specialised stitching techniques. When the injury is presented late and direct repair is no longer possible, a two-stage repair using silicone rods may be required. Post-operative splinting and a strict physiotherapy protocol are equally critical — without them, even technically excellent surgery will not achieve a good functional result.
DON'T WAIT ON A TENDON INJURY
A tendon injury that is treated within days has a fundamentally better prognosis than one treated weeks later. As time passes after the injury, the cut ends of the tendon retract, scar and contract — making a clean, direct repair progressively harder or eventually impossible. The following outcomes become increasingly likely with every day of delay.
PROCEDURE OVERVIEW
A clear summary of what to expect before you arrive.
Surgery Time
Anaesthesia
Hospital Stay
Drains
Supporting Garment
The exact surgical approach — augmentation, reduction, lift or combination — is determined at consultation based on your individual anatomy and goals.
RECOVERY TIMELINE
Week 1
The tendon is repaired and a protective splint fitted. A follow-up appointment within the first week checks wound healing and initiates physiotherapy referral.
Weeks 2–4
Guided range-of-motion exercises begin under physiotherapy supervision. The splint remains in place. Compliance with the protocol at this stage is critical to prevent adhesions forming around the repaired tendon.
Weeks 4–8
The splint continues to six to eight weeks. Physiotherapy intensifies with progressive strengthening exercises. Return to light work may be possible during this phase depending on the nature of your job.
Weeks 8–12
Splint is discontinued. A graduated return to moderate physical work is typically achievable at eight to twelve weeks. Heavier manual activities follow as strength and range of motion are consolidated.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES
With prompt surgery and disciplined rehabilitation, the majority of patients achieve a high level of functional recovery in the repaired fingers.
WHY CHOOSE PROFESSOR HINDOCHA
Tendon injuries deteriorate with every passing day. Professor Hindocha prioritises prompt assessment and surgical intervention to give the repaired tendon the best chance of healing correctly.
Specialised multi-strand stitching techniques are used to repair the tendon ends with sufficient strength to withstand early mobilisation — the approach that leads to the best functional outcomes.
When a tendon injury is presented late and direct repair is no longer possible, a staged silicone rod reconstruction can restore function — a more complex procedure managed with the same precision.
Surgery alone does not guarantee a good result. A structured physiotherapy programme — running alongside your recovery from day one — is an essential part of how we approach every tendon repair.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT TECHNIQUE
The surgical approach is determined by how quickly you seek treatment and the nature of your injury.
BEST OUTCOME
Performed within days of the injury. The cut tendon ends are located and sutured directly back together using multi-strand repair techniques. Early mobilisation under physiotherapy supervision begins within the first week, producing the best long-term range of motion.
STILL DIRECT
Where primary repair was not immediately possible — due to contamination, swelling or delayed presentation — a direct repair is still achievable within a limited window of several weeks post-injury, before scarring makes this impractical.
LATE PRESENTATION
For injuries presenting too late for direct repair, a silicone rod is first placed to form a smooth tunnel in the tendon sheath. Months later, the rod is replaced with a tendon graft. A longer process, but function can still be meaningfully restored.
“
I cut my hand on broken glass and could not bend two fingers. Professor Hindocha operated the next day. Six weeks later I had full movement back — I could not believe it.
“
A sporting injury left me unable to straighten my ring finger. The surgery and the physio programme were both excellent. I was back at work in seven weeks.
“
The team were clear about how important the physio was — and they were right. Following the protocol made all the difference. My finger works completely normally now.
DO YOU NEED TENDON REPAIR?
If you cannot fully bend or straighten a finger following an injury, you may have a tendon injury that requires surgical repair. Common presentations include:
REHABILITATION IS NON-NEGOTIABLE
Tendon repair surgery creates a join that is mechanically sound — but that join needs to be protected from excessive force while it heals, and mobilised carefully to prevent adhesions forming around it. This is a fine balance that only a specialist hand physiotherapist can manage correctly.
Too much immobility allows scar tissue to bind the tendon to the surrounding sheath, dramatically reducing range of motion. Too much force risks re-rupture. The protocol is precise and non-negotiable — strict adherence is the single biggest factor in your final outcome beyond the surgery itself.
RELATED PROCEDURES
Specialist hand trauma surgery managed at the same clinic.
HAND SURGERY
Avulsion of the flexor digitorum profundus tendon from the fingertip — a common injury in contact sports.
HAND SURGERY
Rupture of the extensor tendon at the fingertip, causing the finger to droop and lose the ability to straighten.
HAND SURGERY
Fractures of the bones of the hand and fingers, often occurring alongside tendon injuries in trauma cases.
ACT NOW — TIME IS CRITICAL
Early repair. Better outcomes.
If you or someone you know has a suspected tendon injury — whether from a recent cut, a sports accident, or a sudden loss of finger movement — please seek assessment without delay. Professor Hindocha is experienced in urgent tendon repair and will assess and plan treatment as quickly as possible.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The questions patients and families ask most often.
