Injuries to the Tendons of the Hand

Abstract

While the hand represents the most frequently injured part of the body in children, tendon injuries occur relatively rarely. Due to their superficial location, extensor tendon injuries are diagnosed more often than those of flexor tendons. Nevertheless, in every wound on the palmar side of the hand, an injury to the flexor tendons must be excluded. Due to anxiety and a lack of willingness to cooperate, the correct diagnosis in children is often not easy. Moreover, knowledge of the anatomy and function of the flexor tendons is of pivotal importance for the correct diagnosis of flexor tendons injuries. Missing or incorrect care for this injury results in catastrophic sequelae. The anatomy of the extensor tendons changes several times in its course from the forearm to the terminal phalanges. Therefore, both the surgical approach and the postoperative care depend on the location of the injury. The aim of this chapter is to present an overview concerning diagnosis, therapy, and postoperative rehabilitation of both flexor and extensor tendon injuries of the pediatric hand.