Jersey Finger
Jersey finger treatment Sydney
Jersey finger, medically known as flexor tendon avulsion, is a particular type of injury to a tendon near the end of the finger. It’s relatively common in certain sports, such as rugby and rock climbing. Surgical treatment is usually necessary to prevent a permanent loss of function, and the outcomes are best when the injury is treated as soon as possible.
What is jersey finger?
Jersey finger is an injury to the tendon of a muscle known as the flexor digitorum profundus (FDP). This muscle is located in the forearm, and has long tendons that attach near the end of each finger. The FDP is used for flexing the fingers, such as when grabbing or holding onto something.
Jersey finger occurs when the finger is strongly flexing, and is then forcefully straightened. These two opposing forces cause one of the tendons of the FDP to be pulled away from the finger bone. In some cases, a small piece of bone is pulled off with the tendon.
The term “jersey finger” originated from rugby. One common way for this injury to occur is when a player grabs an opponent’s jersey, but then the opponent strongly pulls away. This causes forceful extension of the finger while it’s still trying to grab. However, the same type of injury can also occur in other sports, such as rock climbing.
What are the symptoms of jersey finger?
A person with jersey finger is unable to bend one of their fingertips. Although the fingertip can be passively bent (for example, by using the other hand), the patient is unable to actively bend it. When they try to make a fist, the affected finger remains straighter than the other fingers. There’s also pain and swelling around the base of the last segment of the affected finger.
The ring finger is most commonly affected by jersey finger. This is because the anatomy of the hand generally causes the ring finger to be more prominent than other fingers while gripping, so this finger experiences more force than other fingers. The insertion of the tendon on the ring finger is also slightly weaker than the insertion on other fingers. Although the ring finger is the most commonly affected, it’s also possible for the same type of injury to occur on other fingers.
How is jersey finger treated?
Without treatment, the tendon will generally not reattach itself to the end of the finger bone. Although the pain and swelling will eventually resolve on their own, the tendon will remain detached, and the patient will be permanently unable to bend their fingertip.
If the tendon is torn but the bone remains intact, then surgery involves repairing the tendon. Depending on the specifics of the tear, this could involve reconnecting the two torn ends of the tendon, or surgically reinserting the end of the tendon into the bone. Surgical techniques are used to reinforce the tendon, to help it remain intact over the years to come. It takes about 8 to 12 weeks for healing, so you’ll need to take this much time away from your sport.
If a piece of the bone has been torn away along with the tendon, then the bone fracture must be repaired first. Small plates or screws may be used to anchor the two pieces of bone to each other, so the fracture will be able to heal in the proper position. The tendon can then be repaired as needed.
If you experience an injury of this type, it’s important to get treatment right away. If the tendon is fully torn, the tension from the muscle causes the torn end of the tendon to retract away from its natural attachment site. The more the tendon retracts, the more difficult the surgical repair will be. The tearing of the tendon also disrupts its blood supply, and unless this is reconnected, the tissue of the tendon will start to die off (a process known as necrosis), which can make it impossible to reattach the tendon later. Scar tissue can also form around the damaged tendon, whether it’s a partial or a full tear. This scar tissue can later interfere with normal movement of the finger. The sooner you treat the injury, the greater the chances that you’ll regain full function in your finger.
It’s generally best to repair a jersey finger injury within about three weeks, to minimize the risk of tendon retraction and necrosis. However, if it’s been a longer time since the injury occurred, there are still options for surgical repair. A tendon graft may be needed, since the natural tendon is not likely to be healthy and long enough to reattach. A piece of a tendon is taken from a different forearm muscle, and is used to repair the damaged FDP tendon, restoring function to the finger.
If a jersey finger injury has gone untreated for a long period of time, the joint at the end of the finger can become very damaged. If this occurs, then the best option may be fusion or replacement of that joint. A fusion procedure addresses pain and instability, but completely eliminates the ability to move the fingertip, while finger joint replacement allows the fingertip to move.
Treatment of a flexor tendon avulsion injury
As an expert in the field of hand surgery, Dr. Sungaran has experience in the diagnosis and treatment of jersey finger. His extensive training allows him to select the specific surgical technique that’s best for each individual patient, to maximize the chances of a good long-term outcome.
From his offices in Caringbah, Burwood, and North Strathfield, Dr. Sungaran is able to serve patients from Sutherland Shire and the entire greater Sydney area. If you’re seeking jersey finger treatment in Sydney, simply contact our friendly office staff, either online or by phone, to schedule your consultation.
