Flexor tendon injury
If you’ve cut your hand or injured a finger and suddenly can’t bend it properly, you may have damaged a flexor tendon.
Specialist hand care
Expert assessment
See a specialist experienced in tendon injuries affecting the hand and wrist.
A plan built around you
Personalised treatment
We’ll look at the extent of your injury and explain the right treatment options for you.
Focus on your recovery
Support as you heal
Get the guidance you need to safely rebuild movement and return to everyday tasks.
What is a flexor tendon injury?
Flexor tendons are the strong bands of tissue that let you bend your fingers and thumb. They run from the muscles in your forearm into your hand, where they move through small tunnels of tissue that help keep them in place. As these tendons sit close to the skin on the palm side of your hand, they can be damaged by a deep cut. A tendon can also tear or pull away from the bone if a finger is forcefully pulled during sport. The injury may affect part of the tendon or go all the way through it. How much damage there is will usually shape the treatment you need.
What causes a flexor tendon injury?
A cut across the palm, finger or wrist is one of the most common ways to damage a flexor tendon.
An injury can also happen when a finger is pulled suddenly while you’re trying to keep it bent. This is sometimes called ‘Jersey finger’, and is often seen in contact sports when a finger catches on another player’s clothing.
Activities that place a lot of force through your fingers, such as climbing, can put these tendons under strain.
Some conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, which causes inflammation around the joints, can also weaken tendons and make them easier to injure.
What are the symptoms of a flexor tendon injury?
The clearest sign is often that a finger or thumb no longer bends as it normally would.
You may also notice:
- Pain when you try to bend the injured finger
- Tenderness around the injured area
- Numbness if a nearby nerve has also been affected
- A recent cut or pulling injury around the finger, palm or wrist
If you’ve had a deep cut and can’t move your finger normally afterwards, it’s important to have it checked promptly.
How is a flexor tendon injury diagnosed?
Your specialist will start by assessing the injury and asking you to move the affected finger or thumb. This helps them see which movements have been affected and how well the tendon is working. They’ll also check the feeling in your finger, as a deep cut can sometimes damage nearby nerves.
If the bone may have been injured, you might need an X-ray.
How is a flexor tendon injury treated?
Treatment depends on how badly the tendon has been damaged.
If only part of the tendon is torn, it may heal without an operation. A full tear usually needs surgery to rejoin it.
Your specialist will explain what they’ve found and what each option would mean for your recovery, so you know what to expect before treatment begins.
Treatment routes for a flexor tendon injury
Treatment is designed to help the tendon heal while keeping your hand moving as safely as possible. Your treatment plan will depend on the injury and how you use your hand each day.
A partial tendon tear may be treated with a splint, which supports your hand or finger while it heals.
You’ll usually be given specific exercises by your care team to help restore movement without putting too much pressure on the tendon. They’ll explain when you can safely start doing more activities involving your affected hand.
Recovery goals after a flexor tendon injury treatment
Phase 1 goals:
Protect the healing tendon with your splint Start the gentle movements recommended by your hand therapist
Phase 2 goals:
Gradually use your hand for lighter everyday tasks when advised Continue working on comfortable movement while the tendon becomes stronger
Phase 3 goals:
Build towards more demanding tasks as your strength returns Work towards the activities that matter to you
Working with Hand and Wrist professionals and teams
Our hand and wrist specialists support professional athletes, sports teams, active individuals and people whose work places high demands on their hands and wrists. Working closely with radiologists, physiotherapists and the wider multidisciplinary team, they provide coordinated care from diagnosis through to rehabilitation, helping each person return safely to sport, work or everyday activities.
The same specialist expertise and collaborative approach are available to every patient, whatever your activity level or recovery goals.
Our Experts - Leaders in Hand and Wrist treatment
How to pay
We offer flexible options depending on how you choose to access care at Fortius. Whichever option you choose, we’ll help make the process clear and straightforward from the start.
Private medical insurance
If your care is covered by private medical insurance, we’ll usually invoice your insurer directly. Please check your policy in advance and request an authorisation code if your insurer requires one. You’ll be responsible for paying any policy excess or costs that aren’t covered by your insurance.
Paying for yourself
You don’t need private medical insurance to access care at Fortius. If you’re paying for your own treatment, our team will explain the costs clearly and provide a personalised quote before you decide whether to go ahead.
Find a clinic near you
Fortius Clinic City
Our City Clinic is conveniently located between Bank and Monument stations, within the historic and financial heart of London. At our modern, two-floor facility we have nine consulting rooms, spacious waiting areas, well equipped treatment rooms and an imaging centre.
Explore our City Clinic with our virtual tour.
If you are travelling by Tube, our closest underground stations are Bank and Monument, exit 6 for King William Street.
Should you be travelling by car, the closest parking is a three minute drive away at NCP Car Park London Vintry Thames Exchange. If you are attending clinic on a weekday, please be aware that we are based in the congestion charge zone.
- 75 King William StreetEC4N 7BE
- 0203 195 2442
- Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 8.00pm.
- Snow Injuries Clinic
- Tendon
- Sports & Exercise Medicine
- Ultrasound
- X-Ray
- Physician services
- Rheumatology
- MRI Scan
Fortius Clinic Marylebone
Our Marylebone Clinic is conveniently located in the historic area between Baker Street and Marylebone High Street, just off Manchester Square, home to the iconic Wallace Collection. We have seven consulting rooms, private waiting areas on each floor, well equipped treatment rooms and diagnostic imaging.
- 17 Fitzhardinge StreetW1U 2EU
- 020 3195 2442
- MRI Scan
- Ultrasound
- X-Ray
- Physician services
- Rheumatology
Fortius Clinic Marylebone Wing
Our 79,000 sq ft, seven-story, private hospital on Wigmore Street has 39 en-suite inpatient rooms, consultation and treatment rooms, and a physiotherapy suite.
The hospital has a high-spec imaging suite fully equipped with an MRI, CT scanner and X-ray machine. There are three state-of-the-art operating theatres, two anaesthetic rooms and a recovery bay.
Fortius Clinic London has two Mako robots for hip and knee joint replacements.
- 66 Wigmore StreetW1U 2SB
- +442031952442
- Open 24 hours
- Sports & Exercise Medicine
- Snow Injuries Clinic
- Tendon
- Ultrasound
- X-Ray
- Physician services
- Rheumatology
- CT guided injection
- MRI Scan
- CT Scan
Fortius Clinic Wimbledon
Our Wimbledon clinic houses a state-of-the-art imaging centre with a 3T MRI and X-ray scanners, Ultrasound, seven consulting rooms, two spacious waiting areas and well equipped treatment rooms all located on one level, ensuring easy accessibility for all patients.
Our partnership with Spire St Anthony’s Hospital allows us to provide orthopaedic surgery closer to our clinic. We treat a full range of conditions and perform joint replacement surgery using the latest Mako robotic assisted technology.
Take a tour of our clinic virtually through Google 360 views here.
We are open Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 8.00pm, and Saturday mornings from 8.30am to 12.30pm.
If you are travelling by Tube, our closest underground station is Wimbledon (District Line), which also has rail and tramlink services from central London and beyond.
There is no parking available at the clinic, but we have a number of parking facilities all within a 10-12 minute walk of the clinic: Centre Court Car Park, Broadway Car Park, and Hartfield Road Car Park. Please note that all of these facilities are paid car parks.
The building at 22 Worple Road has steps leading up to the front entrance. If you require assistance please inform us before your arrival by calling ahead on 020 3195 2442
- 22 Worple RoadSW19 4DD
- 0203 195 2442
- Snow Injuries Clinic
- Ultrasound
- X-Ray
- MRI Scan
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