Schöffl V, Heid A, Küpper T. Tendon injuries of the hand. World J Orthop 2012; 3(6): 62-69 [PMID: 22720265 DOI: 10.5312/wjo.v3.i6.62]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Dr. Volker Schöffl, Associate Professor, Department of Sportorthopedics and Sportsmedicine, Klinikum Bamberg, Bugerstr.80, 96052 Bamberg, Germany. volker.schoeffl@me.com
Article-Type of This Article
Editorial
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World J Orthop. Jun 18, 2012; 3(6): 62-69 Published online Jun 18, 2012. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v3.i6.62
Tendon injuries of the hand
Volker Schöffl, Andreas Heid, Thomas Küpper
Volker Schöffl, Department of Sportorthopedics and Sportsmedicine, Klinikum Bamberg, 96049 Bamberg, Germany
Volker Schöffl, Department of Traumatology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany
Andreas Heid, Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Klinikum Bamberg, 96052 Bamberg, Germany
Thomas Küpper, Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine, Aachen Technical University, Aachen, Germany
Author contributions: Schöffl V made substantial contributions to the conception and design, acquisition, analysis and interpretation of data, drafting the article, revising it critically for important intellectual content and gave final approval of the version to be published; Heid A acquired, analyzed and interpreted the data, drafted the article in English and gave final approval of the version to be published; Küpper T made substantial contributions to the conception and design, acquisition of data, drafting the article, revising it critically for important intellectual content and gave final approval of the version to be published.
Correspondence to: Dr. Volker Schöffl, Associate Professor, Department of Sportorthopedics and Sportsmedicine, Klinikum Bamberg, Bugerstr.80, 96052 Bamberg, Germany. volker.schoeffl@me.com
Telephone: +49-951-50312241 Fax: +49-951-50312249
Received: December 16, 2011 Revised: May 11, 2012 Accepted: June 5, 2012 Published online: June 18, 2012
Abstract
Tendon injuries are the second most common injuries of the hand and therefore an important topic in trauma and orthopedic patients. Most injuries are open injuries to the flexor or extensor tendons, but less frequent injuries, e.g., damage to the functional system tendon sheath and pulley or dull avulsions, also need to be considered. After clinical examination, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging have proved to be important diagnostic tools. Tendon injuries mostly require surgical repair, dull avulsions of the distal phalanges extensor tendon can receive conservative therapy. Injuries of the flexor tendon sheath or single pulley injuries are treated conservatively and multiple pulley injuries receive surgical repair. In the postoperative course of flexor tendon injuries, the principle of early passive movement is important to trigger an “intrinsic” tendon healing to guarantee a good outcome. Many substances were evaluated to see if they improved tendon healing; however, little evidence was found. Nevertheless, hyaluronic acid may improve intrinsic tendon healing.
