There is nothing more frustrating than telling your hand to do something and having it not respond. The inability to lift your wrist, straighten a finger, or give a simple thumbs-up can be a devastating consequence of a traumatic injury or a chronic condition. This loss of movement can leave you feeling powerless and fearful of a permanent disability, impacting your work, your hobbies, and your daily life.
There is nothing more frustrating than telling your hand to do something and having it not respond. The inability to lift your wrist, straighten a finger, or give a simple thumbs-up can be a devastating consequence of a traumatic injury or a chronic condition. This loss of movement can leave you feeling powerless and fearful of a permanent disability, impacting your work, your hobbies, and your daily life.
Fortunately, there is hope. Through sophisticated procedures like Tendon Repair and highly advanced Tendon Transfers, it is often possible to restore critical movements that have been lost. As a Harvard-trained specialist in Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Microsurgery, Dr. Rod French possesses the subspecialized expertise and experience to perform these complex, life-changing operations, offering a clear path from functional loss to renewed capability.
Tendons are the strong, smooth “ropes” that connect your muscles to your bones. When a muscle contracts, it pulls on the tendon, and the tendon, in turn, moves the bone. An injury or condition that disrupts this connection results in a loss of movement. Tendon surgery is designed to restore this vital link.
A Tendon Repair is performed when a tendon has been acutely torn or severed, typically from a deep cut or a sudden rupture. The goal is straightforward: to meticulously suture the two ends of the “broken rope” back together. This is a delicate procedure that re-establishes the natural connection, allowing the tendon to heal and for strength to be restored, and must be done within the first two weeks after injury to be successful.
A Tendon Transfer is a more complex and sophisticated reconstructive procedure. It is performed when a muscle is paralyzed (due to a nerve injury) or a tendon is irreparably damaged or has been missing for a long time. The brilliant solution is to “re-wire” the hand. Dr. French strategically detaches a healthy, functioning tendon from a less critical area (almost always a tendon that is performing a dual function to another tendon and is therefore ‘expendable’) and reroutes it, attaching it to a new location to take over the job of the non-functioning one. This can restore a crucial lost movement, such as the ability to lift your wrist or pinch with your thumb.
These procedures are designed to address a significant loss of active motion. You may be a candidate if you have:
When it comes to tendon surgery, timing and expertise are paramount.
Choosing private care gives you timely access to a specialist with the reconstructive expertise to perform these complex procedures. It allows for an optimal surgical window for repairs and provides a faster path to restoring function and getting back to your life with a tendon transfer.
Recovery from tendon surgery is an active, collaborative process that is just as important as the surgery itself.
It’s a sophisticated surgery where a surgeon reroutes a healthy, functioning tendon to a new location to take over the job of a muscle that is paralyzed or a tendon that is irreparably damaged. It’s a way to “re-wire” the hand to restore a lost movement.
How long is the recovery from tendRecovery involves an initial period of immobilization (3-6 weeks) followed by a carefully progressed hand therapy program. A return to light activities can take 6-8 weeks, with a return to heavy lifting or sports often taking 3-4 months or more. on repair surgery?
The surgery is performed under anesthesia and is not painful. Post-operative pain is managed with medication. The rehabilitation process can involve discomfort as you work to regain motion and strength, but it is a guided and gradual process.
As with any surgery, risks are rare but can include infection, stiffness, or rupture of the repair/transfer. For tendon transfers, the main challenge is setting the tension on the transfer ‘just right’ and the intensive therapy required to prevent stiffness while protecting the healing tendon repair site . Dr. French will discuss all risks with you in detail.
