- info@irosm.com
- 3333 West Commercial Blvd , Ste 101 Fort Lauderdale , Fl, 33309
(954) 751 6990
(954) 751 6990
If you suddenly cannot bend or straighten a finger or thumb after a cut, a fall or a forceful grab, a tendon may be torn. Tendon tears in the hand can be hard to pin down, and some need prompt surgical repair, so a fast, accurate diagnosis matters.
At the Institute of Regenerative Orthopedics & Sports Medicine (IROSM), Dr. Jorge Gonzalez, MD at IROSM in Fort Lauderdale uses high-resolution ultrasound in the office to find the tear, show whether it is partial or complete, and locate the torn ends to help plan your care. The video shows how he finds a tear.
Book Your Appointment Now: (954) 751-6990 Make an Inquiry Online
Tendons connect the forearm muscles to the bones of the fingers and thumb. Flexor tendons on the palm side bend the fingers; extensor tendons on the back of the hand straighten them. A tendon can tear partly or all the way through. When it tears completely, the torn end can pull back (retract) toward the palm or wrist, which is why the finger may stop working in one direction.
You cannot bend one or more joints of a finger. Often caused by a cut, or by a forceful grab, as in “jersey finger”, when a finger is pulled straight while gripping.
You cannot fully straighten a finger. A common example is mallet finger, where the fingertip droops after a jammed finger or a blow to the tip.
Thumb tendons can tear after a cut, a fall or, sometimes, wear from a wrist fracture or arthritis. If thumb pain is from inflammation rather than a tear, see our page on thumb tendonitis and De Quervain’s tenosynovitis.
Some tendons tear only partly. The finger may still move but feel weak, painful or catch. These need careful assessment, because a partial tear can progress.
Common causes include cuts from knives or glass, forceful grabbing, falls and sports injuries. Tendons weakened by rheumatoid arthritis, repeated steroid injections, or certain medicines, such as some antibiotics, may tear more easily. Clicking or locking without a clear injury is more often trigger finger, and numbness and tingling in the fingers can point to carpal tunnel syndrome.
A deep cut that is bleeding heavily, or a finger that is numb or pale, needs emergency care right away.
A tendon tear in the hand can be hard to pin down by exam alone, and a retracted tendon end can be difficult to find even on MRI. Dr. Gonzalez uses high-resolution ultrasound for orthopedics and sports medicine to look at the tendon in the office, while you move the finger.
After a cut, ultrasound can also help find small foreign bodies left in the wound. Read about removing foreign bodies with ultrasound.
A complete tear of a flexor tendon usually needs surgical repair by a hand surgeon, and timing matters, so prompt evaluation is important. Knowing exactly where the torn ends are can help the surgeon plan the repair. Dr. Gonzalez can share the ultrasound findings with your hand surgeon, or help you find one, and works with referring surgeons on each patient’s care.
Some injuries, such as many cases of mallet finger and some partial tears, may be treated without surgery using a splint and hand therapy. Whether a non-surgical approach is appropriate depends on the type of tear, its size and your needs, and is decided after your exam and ultrasound.
Providing hand and finger tendon injury evaluation with ultrasound to residents in Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Plantation, and Broward County. For our Hialeah office, se habla español.
Institute of Regenerative Orthopedics & Sports Medicine (IROSM)
3333 West Commercial Blvd, Suite 101
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309
Phone: (954) 751-6990
Triple board-certified · Fellowship-trained at the Andrews Institute · Fort Lauderdale & Hialeah
Schedule a consultation with Dr. Jorge Gonzalez at IROSM in Fort Lauderdale for an in-office ultrasound to find out whether a tendon is torn and which next step is right for your condition.
Book Your Appointment Now: (954) 751-6990 Make an Inquiry Online
Disclaimer: This content is for general educational purposes and does not constitute formal medical advice. Individual patient outcomes will vary. Torn tendon evaluation at IROSM in Fort Lauderdale requires a clinical examination by Dr. Jorge Gonzalez to establish candidacy. Serving Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Plantation, and surrounding Broward County communities.
