II. Anatomy: Dorsal Hand Zones (Extensor Hand)
- Zone 1: DIP Joint and Distal Phalanx (including Fingernail)
- Zone 2: Middle Phalanx
- Zone 3: PIP Joint and Proximal Phalanx
- Zone 4: MCP Joint
- Zone 5: Distal Metacarpals
- Zone 6: Proxmal Metacarpals
- Zone 7: Distal wrist and Carpal Bones
- Zone 8: Proximal wrist and Carpal Bones
III. Signs
- Variable loss of active finger extension
- Inspect all Lacerations for Tendon Injury
-
Metacarpal-phalangeal joint (MCP) may be most difficult
- Tendon retracts most at this location
- Exploration may require Laceration extension
- Allows for tendon visualization
IV. Imaging
- XRay Hand Indications
- Evaluate for Retained Foreign Body (Radiopaque Foreign Body)
- Concurrent Fractures
- Joint injury
V. Management: Repair
- Open Extensor Tendon Lacerations are amenable to Emergency department repair
- Contrast with flexor tendon injuries which are made more complicated by anatomy (e.g. tendon sheaths)
- Indications: Extensor tendon repair
- Full tendon Laceration
- Partial tendon Laceration over 33% of tendon
- Contraindications for emergency department extensor tendon repair
- Neurovascular injury
- Thumb injury
- Zone 7 or 8 injury (distal wrist)
- Significant wound contamination or tissue destruction
- Closed Tendon Injury
- Associated Fractures
-
Laceration evaluation
- Extensive Wound Irrigation
- Evaluate for retained Skin Foreign Body
- Direct end to end repair of tendon
- Technique: Kessler Repair
- Wound Irrigation and exploration as above
- Extend fingers to best visualize tendon segments
- Consider proximal penrose drain or Blood Pressure cuff inflation
- May improve visualization if blood obscures surgical field
- Use braided non-Absorbable Suture (nylon) 4-0
- Proximal Tendon Segment
- Distal Tendon Segment
- Grasp distal tendon end in forceps
- Suture enters lateral (ulnar) tendon and exits on dorsal aspect of tendon
- Suture loops behind tendon ventrally from lateral to medial
- Suture enters medial (radial) tendon and exits on dorsal aspect tendon
- Tie the 2 Suture ends together
- Attempt to bury knot and cut the Suture ends close to the knot
- Perform Laceration Repair
- Disposition
- Splint wrist and finger in extension for 4 weeks
- Follow-up with hand surgery in 5-7 days
- Technique: Kessler Repair
- Alternative: Deferred Repair
- Wound Irrigation and Laceration Repair
- Splint wrist and fingers in extension
- Urgent referral to hand surgery for definitive tendon repair
VI. References
- Warrington, David and Deaton (2020) Crit Dec Emerg Med 34(12): 15
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Related Studies
Concepts | Therapeutic or Preventive Procedure (T061) |
SnomedCT | 26731003, 74039007 |
English | Tenosuture of hand, Tenorrhaphy of hand, Suture of tendon of hand, Tendinosuture of hand, Suture of tendon of hand (procedure), Repair of tendon of hand by suture, Repair of tendon of hand by suture (procedure), Repair of tendon of hand by suture, direct, immediate, primary, Suture of tendon of hand, NOS |
Spanish | tenorrafia de mano, tenorrafia en mano, reparación de tendón de la mano mediante sutura, reparación de tendón de la mano mediante sutura (procedimiento), reparación de un tendón de la mano mediante sutura, reparación de un tendón de la mano mediante sutura (procedimiento), sutura de un tendón de la mano (procedimiento), sutura de un tendón de la mano, tendinosutura de la mano, tenorrafia de la mano, tenosutura de la mano |
Ontology: Tendon injury - hand (C0434301)
Concepts | Injury or Poisoning (T037) |
SnomedCT | 212429006, 209461002, 262971000 |
Dutch | handpeesletsel |
French | Lésion d'un tendon de la main |
German | Handsehnenverletzung |
Italian | Traumatismo del tendine della mano |
Portuguese | Lesão traumática de tendão da mão |
Spanish | Lesión traumática de tendón de mano, lesión de tendón de la mano (trastorno), lesión de tendón de la mano |
Japanese | 手の腱損傷, テノケンソンショウ |
Czech | Poranění šlachy ruky |
English | Hand tendon injury, hand injuries tendon, hand tendon injury, Tendon injury to hand NOS, Tendon injury - hand, Tendon injury - hand (disorder) |
Hungarian | Kézínsérülés |
Ontology: Laceration of tendon of finger (C2959660)
Concepts | Injury or Poisoning (T037) |
SnomedCT | 446313009 |
English | Laceration of tendon of finger (disorder), Laceration of tendon of finger |
Spanish | laceración de tendón de dedo de la mano, laceración de tendón de dedo de la mano (trastorno) |