Cut tendon in finger
Discussion
Not the best week; on Monday I was cutting a metal tool with my grinder when it jumped and cut my left index finger. I instantly knew it was not looking good so I called my GP surgery who told me to either call NHS 24 or head to hospital; given the blood I decided to drive myself 15 miles to accident and emergency.
I was directed to the small injury clinic and triaged then x-rayed. The nurse gave me a “ring block” injection to numb the pain and checked the injury; she called a surgeon from the orthopaedic department who appeared within 10 minutes, checked the wound and took some pictures on his iphone (to show his consultant) and concluded I would need surgery the following day as I had went through the tendon and a bit of the bone. They cleaned fragments of the cutting disc out of the wound, stitched it up temporarily and I went home. I got a call from the surgeon that night to say it was all good for the next morning and to arrive at 7am. They operated at around midday (under general anaesthetic), and my finger is now in a splint for two weeks, after which I will get another removable splint so I can very lightly exercise it. The recovery could take 6 weeks, which is far from ideal but at least the operation went well. The level of care and treatment was absolutely first class.
Has anybody had a similar injury and would be willing to share their experience?
I was modifying a wheel bearing removal tool when it happened and my wife’s car is currently without a wheel bearing until I can get it fixed….thankfully I now have someone lined up for that!
I was directed to the small injury clinic and triaged then x-rayed. The nurse gave me a “ring block” injection to numb the pain and checked the injury; she called a surgeon from the orthopaedic department who appeared within 10 minutes, checked the wound and took some pictures on his iphone (to show his consultant) and concluded I would need surgery the following day as I had went through the tendon and a bit of the bone. They cleaned fragments of the cutting disc out of the wound, stitched it up temporarily and I went home. I got a call from the surgeon that night to say it was all good for the next morning and to arrive at 7am. They operated at around midday (under general anaesthetic), and my finger is now in a splint for two weeks, after which I will get another removable splint so I can very lightly exercise it. The recovery could take 6 weeks, which is far from ideal but at least the operation went well. The level of care and treatment was absolutely first class.
Has anybody had a similar injury and would be willing to share their experience?
I was modifying a wheel bearing removal tool when it happened and my wife’s car is currently without a wheel bearing until I can get it fixed….thankfully I now have someone lined up for that!
I had the exact same thing... went through the top of my index finger with a bread knife, yes 6 weeks is about right to get back to full use, just think of it like stretching an elastic band from cold, keep flexing it until it hurts everyday and it'll keep improving and you'll be able to flex it further each day... just make sure to keep the wound clean and dry so it can heal...
also, its tempting to take the splint off, but if you knock it and over flex the finger it bloody hurts!
... the surgeon said to me whilst he was operating "how did you do this ? ... must've been a sharp knife" :hehe"
also, its tempting to take the splint off, but if you knock it and over flex the finger it bloody hurts!
... the surgeon said to me whilst he was operating "how did you do this ? ... must've been a sharp knife" :hehe"
My wife is a consultant hand surgeon - she tends to comment that success is partly her skill, but hugely reliant on the physios and the patient doing what the physios tell them to do - so follow all instructions!
high on her list of banned tools in our household - top three are: table saw / chainsaw / angle grinder
really hope it heals well - it is amazing what the body can do and it sounds as though you had really good prompt service...
high on her list of banned tools in our household - top three are: table saw / chainsaw / angle grinder
really hope it heals well - it is amazing what the body can do and it sounds as though you had really good prompt service...
Yep. I did this at my work nearly 10 years ago. Remarkably though I missed most of the nerves as it wasn't really painful. And it did stop bleeding fairly quickly. Just couldn't lift my middle finger.
Did it on a Friday, went to East Surrey for Triage. (Local to work) Was then booked to go to St Georges (my local) on Saturday morning, but when I got there they said "We've had a busy night so come back Sunday
" and they did it under a local. (I took a photo of my hand all opened up after asking the Surgeon if I could. Happy to post if people want 
) I remember they said 20mins. They tourniquet'ed my bicep area. The pins and needles were horrific after 40mins. There was a notice board on the wall, and I read EVERY SINGLE WORD repeatedly to take my mind off the feeling!
I have a "Z" shape scar on my hand now and there are stitches under the skin holding my tendon together that will be there forever. Took ages to get full strength back. I remember when typing my middle finger was just "slow" compared to the other fingers. And on VERY cold days I get a bit of a pain in the area. The splint thing was ok. And the physio treatment was pretty useful too.
Wasn't allowed to drive for 8 weeks though. Fear was that if I jarred it accidentally it would rip the stitches before they were fully healed. At the time I had to sign some legal documents, so I had to sign with my wrong hand. Don't think they'd stand up in court if analysed!
Did it on a Friday, went to East Surrey for Triage. (Local to work) Was then booked to go to St Georges (my local) on Saturday morning, but when I got there they said "We've had a busy night so come back Sunday
" and they did it under a local. (I took a photo of my hand all opened up after asking the Surgeon if I could. Happy to post if people want ) I remember they said 20mins. They tourniquet'ed my bicep area. The pins and needles were horrific after 40mins. There was a notice board on the wall, and I read EVERY SINGLE WORD repeatedly to take my mind off the feeling!I have a "Z" shape scar on my hand now and there are stitches under the skin holding my tendon together that will be there forever. Took ages to get full strength back. I remember when typing my middle finger was just "slow" compared to the other fingers. And on VERY cold days I get a bit of a pain in the area. The splint thing was ok. And the physio treatment was pretty useful too.
Wasn't allowed to drive for 8 weeks though. Fear was that if I jarred it accidentally it would rip the stitches before they were fully healed. At the time I had to sign some legal documents, so I had to sign with my wrong hand. Don't think they'd stand up in court if analysed!
Many thanks for helpful replies.
Bit of an update. I went back to the hospital two weeks after the injury to get my stitches out and get checked over by the consultant. I then saw a physio and wasn’t massively impressed. He made up a splint out of thermoplastic and told me to keep it on for the next four weeks; what he didn’t tell me to do (and something I found out last week) was to massage the scar to reduce the chance of the scar tissue sticking to the tendon. Last week I felt my finger was really stiff, and even with the splint (which was quite loose) there was absolutely no movement in the joint. I called the hospital and that is when another physio told me I should have been massaging it. I now feel my tendon is stuck (my wound dips down in the middle and looks like it is pinched), and having gone through some physio today my instinct is that no amount of physio is going to release it.
I can’t really wait for months to see whether or not I need further surgery to release it as I am self employed and need to use my hands! I do have private medical insurance so I am tempted to book an appointment with a consultant and see what they say. The NHS have been great apart from the first physio, but I feel like I could be entering into a doom loop if I try and push for a resolution.
Bit of an update. I went back to the hospital two weeks after the injury to get my stitches out and get checked over by the consultant. I then saw a physio and wasn’t massively impressed. He made up a splint out of thermoplastic and told me to keep it on for the next four weeks; what he didn’t tell me to do (and something I found out last week) was to massage the scar to reduce the chance of the scar tissue sticking to the tendon. Last week I felt my finger was really stiff, and even with the splint (which was quite loose) there was absolutely no movement in the joint. I called the hospital and that is when another physio told me I should have been massaging it. I now feel my tendon is stuck (my wound dips down in the middle and looks like it is pinched), and having gone through some physio today my instinct is that no amount of physio is going to release it.
I can’t really wait for months to see whether or not I need further surgery to release it as I am self employed and need to use my hands! I do have private medical insurance so I am tempted to book an appointment with a consultant and see what they say. The NHS have been great apart from the first physio, but I feel like I could be entering into a doom loop if I try and push for a resolution.
My pal punched someone through their closed car window, raining not only a blow but loads of glass all over the guy driving the car.
What’s crazy is it’s not the first time he’s punched someone on the other side of a closed car window as the last time he did it he severed his tendon and after his surgery surprisingly he hasn’t done it since.
What’s crazy is it’s not the first time he’s punched someone on the other side of a closed car window as the last time he did it he severed his tendon and after his surgery surprisingly he hasn’t done it since.
Sliced my index finger near right through severed artery and nerve and nearly cut through tendon. Three hours micro surgery. The splint they gave me wasn't straightening my finger so made my own out of plywood and Velcro kept it dead straight. Physio agreed that mine was better !! And continued to use it. Make sure the splint keeps it straight otherwise it will end up with slight bend....Had loads of physio. Best to massage with bio oil. All ok now but feels the cold far more than other fingers and gets pins and needles occasionally.
Hell, I'm feeling queezy and having flashbacks.
Hand held circular saw through my index finger in 2005, tendon and nerve.
Surgeon had to cut back up the finger to the palm to find the end, hand in plastic splint for 6 weeks, splint removed once a day and the area massaged with olive oil. Finger works fine (thank you once again Mr Kent at Raigmore) although I do tend to use the second finger more now for typing, keying at ATMs etc. Some loss of feeling at the finger tip due to nerve damage which hasn't recovered.
Hand held circular saw through my index finger in 2005, tendon and nerve.
Surgeon had to cut back up the finger to the palm to find the end, hand in plastic splint for 6 weeks, splint removed once a day and the area massaged with olive oil. Finger works fine (thank you once again Mr Kent at Raigmore) although I do tend to use the second finger more now for typing, keying at ATMs etc. Some loss of feeling at the finger tip due to nerve damage which hasn't recovered.
Cutting a 735 mm o/ d steel tubular pipe by the side of west coast main line,Stihl saw blade ended up cutting left bicep,had most of muscle cut away,had a rather large flap of skin when it was stitched back up,but thankfully that smoothed out,felt tingling shock sensations at times during healing,had a couple of bad days where I was in bed at home alone,arm went stiff and I have a fever,out of it!
Having the muscle sheath cut and repaired I've always been weaker on that arm since, doctors all flocked to a and e to watch the tendons, ligaments move obviously I didn't look at it after the initial omg, would have fainted and I had to walk bout half mile off track to get to van to go to hospital,all good,as it can be now
Having the muscle sheath cut and repaired I've always been weaker on that arm since, doctors all flocked to a and e to watch the tendons, ligaments move obviously I didn't look at it after the initial omg, would have fainted and I had to walk bout half mile off track to get to van to go to hospital,all good,as it can be now
I cut my thumb at the joint to the hand when I was a kid with a saw. The main thing to echo is the physio. Of course I didn't do it at 14 and it took ages to get it moving again after the splint and all the endless w
ker jokes in school.
You had great service there I was worried you were going to say you passed out from blood loss for a minute!
I got a fun little scar
ker jokes in school.You had great service there I was worried you were going to say you passed out from blood loss for a minute!
I got a fun little scar
I chopped my pinkie off with a circular saw in spring this yr. It was sewn back on (was hanging by a flap of skin and a tendon under the finger)
I did physio every day but can’t move the joint, Surgeon said I lost too much of the knuckle. Now waiting to have it fused. Can’t feel anything either in part. If I get pain after the fusion they will shorten the finger.
The ball on the end is how they pull the k wire out that supported the joint. My finger is not straight now.
I did physio every day but can’t move the joint, Surgeon said I lost too much of the knuckle. Now waiting to have it fused. Can’t feel anything either in part. If I get pain after the fusion they will shorten the finger.
The ball on the end is how they pull the k wire out that supported the joint. My finger is not straight now.
I think Caddyshack’s injury puts mine into perspective!
Following on from my OP, I managed to catch/bend the tip of my injured finger last week and it was pretty sore and inflamed so I called the consultant’s secretary and she managed to get me an appointment this morning. I was seen by his registrar and thankfully I’ve not done any further damage, but as there is a distinct lack of movement in the tendon he went off to get his “boss” to get a second opinion. The consultant swooped in with his retinue and checked me over and told me to keep up with the physio and he will see me in 6 weeks to see how I progress. Given the state of the NHS in Scotland I’ve been pretty impressed with the service.
It’s really challenging as I really don’t see much improvement with the physio but I will obviously keep going. It’s difficult to articulate how much an impact it has been not being able to use my hand properly, not least in terms of work. And it really, really doesn’t like the cold…..
Following on from my OP, I managed to catch/bend the tip of my injured finger last week and it was pretty sore and inflamed so I called the consultant’s secretary and she managed to get me an appointment this morning. I was seen by his registrar and thankfully I’ve not done any further damage, but as there is a distinct lack of movement in the tendon he went off to get his “boss” to get a second opinion. The consultant swooped in with his retinue and checked me over and told me to keep up with the physio and he will see me in 6 weeks to see how I progress. Given the state of the NHS in Scotland I’ve been pretty impressed with the service.
It’s really challenging as I really don’t see much improvement with the physio but I will obviously keep going. It’s difficult to articulate how much an impact it has been not being able to use my hand properly, not least in terms of work. And it really, really doesn’t like the cold…..
tim0409 said:
It’s really challenging as I really don’t see much improvement with the physio but I will obviously keep going. It’s difficult to articulate how much an impact it has been not being able to use my hand properly, not least in terms of work. And it really, really doesn’t like the cold…..
Physio is critical - to do exactly as they sayAnd you will feel the cold for at least a couple of years post injury
2 things I learned from listening to my wife (hand consultant) doing video clinics during covid!
akirk said:
tim0409 said:
It’s really challenging as I really don’t see much improvement with the physio but I will obviously keep going. It’s difficult to articulate how much an impact it has been not being able to use my hand properly, not least in terms of work. And it really, really doesn’t like the cold…..
Physio is critical - to do exactly as they sayAnd you will feel the cold for at least a couple of years post injury
2 things I learned from listening to my wife (hand consultant) doing video clinics during covid!
akirk said:
Physio is critical - to do exactly as they say
And you will feel the cold for at least a couple of years post injury
2 things I learned from listening to my wife (hand consultant) doing video clinics during covid!
That’s really helpful, thanks! I have done so much research into tendons since my injury and have been pretty pessimistic but everyone I have spoken to makes the same point as your wife ie the importance of physio. I suppose I am struggling to understand why my finger is so stiff unless the tendon has stuck to the surrounding tissue and how physio would help that, but I just need to defer to the professionals!And you will feel the cold for at least a couple of years post injury
2 things I learned from listening to my wife (hand consultant) doing video clinics during covid!
Like caddyshack, I’m glad the cold thing will get better as it is definitely an issue!
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