• Reference Number: HEY273/2025
• Departments: Physiotherapy
• Last Updated: 30 September 2025

Introduction

This leaflet has been produced to give you general information about your procedure.  Most of your questions should have been answered by this leaflet.  It is not meant to replace the discussion between you and your doctor but may act as a starting point for discussion.  If after reading it you have any concerns or require further explanation, please discuss this with a member of the health care team who has been caring for you.

What is an extensor tendon?

The extensor tendons attach muscles in the forearm, to bones of the fingers and thumb.  As the muscles contract, the tendons slide over the back of the hand and wrist, thus straightening the fingers and thumb.  A damaged tendon needs to be repaired, in order for the hand to function properly.

Can there be any complications or risks?

Infection

Signs might include, the area becoming hot, red, painful or swollen.  There is unusual or new leakage from the wound.  Foul smell.  You feel feverish or unwell.

You should contact Plastics Trauma Clinic, your GP or walk-in centre immediately.

Tendon rupture (breaking)

Signs include:

• Sudden loss of movement of the affected finger/thumb
• Feeling or hearing a crack

You should contact Plastics Trauma Clinic immediately

Adhesions

This happens when the repaired tendon becomes stuck in scar tissue.

You will be shown exercises to help reduce the risk of this happening.

Splint

A splint will be made to protect your tendon whilst it heals.  It is vital that you DO NOT remove the splint until advised to do so by your doctor or Hand Therapist.

Elevation

Swelling is a normal reaction to surgery; however, it is important to limit this as much as possible.

• Wear your sling during the day for the first 3 to 5 days following surgery
• Keep your hand elevated when walking around.
• Elevate your hand on pillows at night and at rest.
• If your hand remains swollen, continue the elevation until it settles.

Exercise

Tendons are complex structures that are vulnerable following repair.

The Hand Therapist will teach you some exercises.  It is important to follow the instructions carefully.

Too much, or incorrect exercise may cause the repaired tendon to snap.

Too little exercise may result in the tendons becoming stuck down with scar tissue, making them ineffective.

Recovery Period

A tendon will repair by forming a scar, rather like a cut on the skin.  However, a tendon takes much longer to heal and remains at risk of re-rupture for several weeks after the skin wound has healed.

0 to 6 Weeks-You will need to wear a splint for 6 weeks. During this time, your Hand Therapist will monitor your progress and will adjust your exercises and splint use as necessary.

6 to 8 weeks post op you will stop using the splint and gradually return to normal activities.

After 7 to 8 weeks- You should be able to return to driving, providing you are safe to do so.

Contact numbers

Should you require further advice on the issues contained in this leaflet, please do not hesitate to contact the following contact numbers:

Hand Therapy (Monday to Friday 8.00am to 4.00 pm) CHH Tel: 01482 622296

Plastic Surgery Trauma Clinic HRI (Daily 9am to 12noon) – Tel: 01482 674509

Your feedback matters to us…

To ensure we deliver a safe and quality service and to help us understand the experience you have of the care you receive from our staff we would value your thoughts about the service you received.

You may be contacted as part of our quality assurance programme which is where we visit our teams and staff and talk to them about the care they provide to our patients or at any time during or after you have needed our services.

To collect this feedback, we would contact you using the registered telephone number we hold in your care record. This feedback will be strictly anonymous and whilst we will share the feedback as part of the process, we will not share any details which may identify you.

We will never ask you any personal questions about your health during these telephone calls.

If you do not wish to speak to us, please say this when we call, we do not want you to feel pressured.