• Reference Number: HEY245/2025
• 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 be answered by this leaflet. It is not intended to replace the discussion between you and the healthcare team 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 healthcare team.

What is a Flexor Tendon?

The flexor tendons originate from muscles in the forearm. The tendons then pass across the wrist, through the palm and into the fingers and thumb. As the muscles contract the tendons slide through the fingers, thumb and palm, bringing the fingertips into the palm and thumb across the palm, making a fist. A damaged tendon needs to be repaired, 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 and Elevation

A splint is 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.

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, intricate 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.

YOU SHOULD NOT

• Do any exercises that the hand therapist has not shown you
• Force your fingers/thumb to straighten
• Use your hand functionally at all until you have been advised to do so by your hand therapist

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 vulnerable for several weeks after the skin wounds have healed.

This is only a guide and may vary according to individual injuries.

0 to 6 weeks – You will need to wear a splint for at least 6 weeks

After 6 to 8 weeks your splint may be discarded, and you can start using your hand for light activities, for example washing and dressing

After 8 weeks you should be able to return to driving if safe to do so.

At 8 to 10 weeks, you can use your hand for moderate activities, but avoid heavy lifting

After 12 weeks you can return to heavy or manual work, contact sports etc.

Contact Details

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

Hand Therapy Castle Hill Hospital Tel: 01482 622296 (Monday to Friday)

Plastic Surgery Trauma Clinic HRI Tel: 01482 674509

(Daily including weekends and bank holidays)

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.