A hand cut can keep a finger from straightening
What a hand surgeon and a hand therapist look for
The tendons that straighten your fingers sit just under the skin on the back of your hand. A shard of glass or metal can slice one through a small cut. The finger may still move a bit because nearby tissue helps it along. So some movement is no proof the tendon is whole. [1]
A finger that droops, won’t fully straighten or hurts when you try needs a hand exam. This is a separate problem from a tendon hurt only at the fingertip. [1]
Get the whole hand examined
Tell your doctor what cut your hand and where. The exam tests whether each finger can straighten under its own power. It also checks feeling, blood flow and any joint injury. X rays may help when glass or bone damage is possible. [1]
A tendon cut all the way through often needs surgery to fix. Some partial cuts can heal with a splint and closely watched movement. Ask which tendon and which joint are involved. [1]
Guard the repair while keeping the hand from stiffening
A repaired tendon is weak at first. Your hand therapist may build a custom splint. They may also teach you exercises that are carefully controlled. The exercises are meant to keep the tendon from sticking to nearby tissue without pulling the repair apart. [1]
Do not take off the splint or add extra gripping or stretching unless your team says it’s safe. Ask how to wash, dress and do your work while the hand stays protected. [1]
Call right away after a setback
A new snap can mean the repair has failed. So can a sudden loss of the ability to straighten the finger. Contact your surgery or therapy team right away. Redness that spreads, fever, drainage or new numbness also needs a doctor’s check. [1]
Questions for your hand team
- Which tendon was cut, and is a joint or nerve hurt too?
- When does the splint have to stay on?
- Exactly which exercises are safe this week?
Watch one full session first
Ask your therapist to show you one complete exercise session before you practice on your own. [1]
Sources and further reading
General education with a hand surgery and hand therapy focus. Injuries to the tendons that straighten the fingers vary by where they are and how deep they go. Stick to the splint and exercise schedule your team set for your repair.
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