Tendon Repair
Restoring your normal hand function
with tendon repair surgery in Lahore Pakistan
The integrity of your hand is essential for your everyday functional living. The anatomy of your hand is complex, intricate and fascinating, and it can get affected by many disorders, most commonly by traumatic injuries. The tendons of your hands are responsible for the generation and accuracy of your movements. At Cosmeticoplasty, we perform tendon repair surgery in Lahore, Pakistan, to restore the fundamental function of your hand and provide the best quality of care.
What is a Tendon?
Your tendon is a band of dense fibrous connective tissue that connects your muscle with your bone. The purpose of the tendon is to transfer mechanical forces generated from your muscle to the bones in order to elicit movement. When your muscle contract, your tendon pulls on the bone, which causes a part of the body (e.g. finger) to move.
Your tendon is a white cord-like structure that is mainly composed of collagen and is joined at one end with a muscle called the musculotendinous junction (MTJ) and the other end with the bone named the bone-tendon junction. Any injury or degeneration of your tendon can weaken the connections at both of these junctions and can lead to a need for tendon repair. You have two types of tendons in your hand;
Flexor Tendons
These run from your forearm to your wrist across the palm of your hand, assisting you in bending your fingers.
Extensor Tendons
They run from your forearm across the back of your hand to your fingers and thumbs, allowing you to straighten your fingers and thumbs.
The Procedure of Tendon Repair Surgery
in Lahore Pakistan
At Cosmeticoplasty, we perform hand tendon repair surgery when one or more tendons in your hand are ruptured or cut, leading to pain and loss of normal function of your hands. We make an incision to reach the injured tendon; extensor tendons are easier to reach, so repairing them is more straightforward. We use regional or general anesthesia depending upon the severity of the injury. Then we proceed to repair your damaged tendon using the method depending upon the damage, the procedure usually takes about 1-1.5 hours, and after that, you might have to wear a splint or compression bandage to protect the repaired tendon and promote healing.
The different types of tendon repair are as following;
Sometimes a tendon graft is needed because the ruptured ends of your tendon are too frayed to sew back together, so we take a piece of healthy tendon from someplace else in your body and use it to stitch together the ripped tendon.
If any of your tendons are not working in your hand due to an injury or any disorder, we can move a working tendon to replace your damaged tendon with the goal of restoring movement. For example; if as an outcome of a broken wrist, a tendon (EPL) of your thumb that allows you to make the ‘thumbs up’ sign gets ruptured and the two torn ends of your tendon are too damaged to sew back, we can transfer one of the tendons of your index finger to your thumb to restore your lost movement.
With the help of local anesthesia and epinephrine, we can perform hand tendon repair surgery with the patient fully conscious. WALANT is widely used in hand and wrist surgery and is proven very beneficial and convenient as you won’t feel sedated after the procedure. The most amazing thing is as you will be awake during the procedure, the tendon repair can be checked by active movement during the surgery, and you will be able to witness your improvement.
Tendon Repair in Lahore Pakistan For Tendon Rupture
Most commonly, tendon injury occurs as a consequence of the gradual wear and tear of your tendon from overuse or aging. Anyone can get a tendon injury due to a variety of reasons, and if your extensor tendon is ruptured, then you are unable to straighten your fingers. If your flexor tendon is affected, then you cannot bend your fingers. Tendinitis and tenosynovitis are the most common mechanisms of tendon injury.
Flexor Tendons
These run from your forearm to your wrist across the palm of your hand, assisting you in bending your fingers.
Extensor Tendons
They run from your forearm across the back of your hand to your fingers and thumbs, allowing you to straighten your fingers and thumbs.
Tendinitis
Tendinitis is the inflammation in the tendon causing pain, swelling and restriction in your movements. It occurs as a result of an injury, overuse, strain or illness. At Cosmeticoplasty, we have the best surgeon for tendinitis treatment in Lahore, Pakistan, to ensure pain relief and to restore your normal movements.
Tenosynovitis
It is the inflammation of your tendon sheath, which is a protective covering of the tendon. Tenosynovitis presents with pain when moving and tenderness on touching the affected area.
Common Tendon Injuries
Tendon injuries can occur as a consequence of sports injuries, cuts, crushing injuries, animal bites, accidents etc., where the tendon of your hand can undergo serious laceration causing the loss of your hand movements. We perform tendon repair surgery to restore the normal function of your hands. Common tendon injuries of your hands are;
Other Causes For Tendon Damage
Following factors can cause inflammation in your tendons leading to weakness, tear and damage of the tendon;
The Procedure of Tendon Repair Surgery
in Lahore Pakistan
At Cosmeticoplasty, we perform hand tendon repair surgery when one or more tendons in your hand are ruptured or cut, leading to pain and loss of normal function of your hands. We make an incision to reach the injured tendon; extensor tendons are easier to reach, so repairing them is more straightforward. We use regional or general anesthesia depending upon the severity of the injury. Then we proceed to repair your damaged tendon using the method depending upon the damage, the procedure usually takes about 1-1.5 hours, and after that, you might have to wear a splint or compression bandage to protect the repaired tendon and promote healing.
The different types of tendon repair are as following;
FAQ’s
- To bring back the normal range of motion, strength, and function of the injured tendon.
- To provide pain relief.
No. It is not considered an emergency procedure, but it is carried out as quickly as possible after the injury because the longer the tendon remains ruptured, the more damage it causes.
- You will hear or feel a snapping or popping sound at the time of injury.
- You will experience severe pain.
- There will be rapid bruising at the site of injury.
- Inability to lift weight.
- Inflammation; you will feel some swelling for the first 3-5 days.
- Early recovery; during the next 3-6 weeks, your range of motion will start to return, but there will still be some stiffness.
- Later repair; swelling will be completely gone after about 10-12 weeks, and it will feel more normal to move your hands.
- You will have to wear a protective splint for 2 to 3 weeks.
- Specific hand exercises will be recommended to you that will help prevent the repaired tendon from getting stuck with surrounding tissues.
The splint is designed to protect and minimize movement on the newly repaired tendon.
- MRI
- Ultrasound
- Physical examination
- The tendon of your hand is ruptured, severed, or cut to the point that it limits the movements of your hand.
- Injury from contact sports.
- Tendon injury or tear due to rheumatoid arthritis or other neuromuscular disorder.
In case of a damaged tendon, you will not be able to bend or straighten your thumb or one or more fingers of your hand. Tendon damage can also cause pain, swelling, weakness, and restriction of movement in your hand.
Depending upon the location and severity of your injury, it can take up to 3 to 4 months for the repaired tendon to regain its previous strength.
- You can go back to light activities after 6-8 weeks.
- Heavy activities and sports can be resumed after 10-12 weeks.
- Infection
- Rupture
- Adhesions
Specific hand exercises are done regularly after tendon repair surgery to prevent scar tissue development which can become very hard and limit movement.
