Tendon Transfers of The Hand
Overview
Many people take their hands for granted. But these important body parts are essential to perform practically every large or small task. Your hands are made up of many important parts that help them carry out these functions. Among these parts are tendons. Serious tendon injuries can impact your hand’s ability to bend or possibly even move. A medical procedure called tendon transfers can be used to correct the problem.
Anatomy
Tendons are flexible pieces of tissue connecting bones to muscles. Your hands contain two specific tendons: flexor and extensor.
Flexor tendons begin in the flexor muscles of the forearms and extend to attach with the finger bones. Each finger contains two flexors, and the thumb has one. The flexors enable your fingers to bend. These tendons are close to the skin, which increases their chances of becoming injured.
The extensor tendon runs alongside the backside of your hands and fingers. These tissues attach the forearm muscles to your wrists. The extensors allow the fingers and wrists to straighten out. These tendons are also located not far beneath the skin, making them more prone to damage.

Description
Tendon transfers are performed when one of your hand’s tendons sustain significant, movement-compromising injury.
Causes of Tendon Damage
The most common cause for tendon transfer surgery is a traumatic injury, such as an abrupt slashing or crushing. Events like car accidents, puncture wounds, or falls might bring forth such occurrences. Other possible factors include diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and certain autoimmune disorders.
There are four main causes of tendon damage:
- Nerve Injuries (cut, stretched, or torn nerve)
- Muscle Injuries (trauma, rheumatoid arthritis)
- Neuromuscular Disorders (cerebral palsy, stroke, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal muscle atrophy)
- Congenital Disabilities (infants born without certain muscle functions).
Symptoms of Badly Damaged Tendons
Symptoms and the severity of the occurrence will vary depending upon the specific location where the damage has taken place. You might have injured your flexor or extensor tendons if you experience problems, such as:
- Tenderness beneath an injured finger.
- Swelling or redness in the damaged region.
- Difficulty moving or bending injured fingers.
- Discomfort when moving fingers.
- In severe instances, complete immobility of one or more fingers.
Injuries might also be present if there are wounds or cuts in areas surrounding the damaged tendon.

Diagnosing Tendon Injuries
If you show any of the preceding symptoms, your physician will ask if you recently injured your hand or have been previously diagnosed with illnesses, such as rheumatoid arthritis or some type of immune system disorder.
This will be followed by the administration of tests measuring your hand’s range of motion and flexibility. If symptoms are severe enough or your mobility is in any way compromised, your physician may order diagnostic tests, such as X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI scans). These diagnostic tests help provide images of your hand’s internal structures.
The Procedure
Tendon transfers can be performed awake (under mild sedation) or asleep. This depends upon specific factors, like your age, general health, and the potential complexities or length of the surgery. During the tendon transfer procedure, your surgeon extracts a part of a healthy tendon and attaches it to the injured one. Once this process is complete, the incisions are closed and stitched.
Recovery
Your hand will likely be placed into either a cast or splint to promote healing and prevent it from contact. Typically, the area will remain immobile until the newly inserted tendon grows into its new position. This process usually takes anywhere from one to two months.
You may be required to undergo physical therapy, using special exercises designed to help restore your hand’s strength and mobility. Since overexertion can lead to re-injury, your exercise therapy must be performed in moderation.
Potential Risks
When performed by an experienced surgeon in a suitable environment, risks are rare. But problems such as infections, excessive bleeding, and nerve damage are possible.
Next Steps
If you have been diagnosed with hand-related tendon injury or believe you might have one, we encourage you to schedule a consultation. Our team of highly skilled specialists can offer a complete assessment. Talk to your Florida Orthopaedic Institute physician today to learn more about tendon transfers of the hand.
Areas of Focus
- Hand & Wrist
- Basal Joint Surgery
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Colles’ Fractures (Broken Wrist)
- De Quervain's Tenosynovitis
- Dupuytren’s Disease
- Finger Dislocation
- Flexor Tendonitis
- Fractured Fingers
- Functional Nerve Transfers of The Hand
- Ganglion Cysts
- Hand & Finger Replantation
- Hand Nerve Decompression
- Hand Skin Grafts
- Nerve Pain
- Peripheral Nerve Surgery (Hand) Revision
- Revascularization of the Hand
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Of The Hand
- Sports Wrist and Hand Injuries
- Sprained Wrist Symptoms and Treatment
- Sudden (Acute) Finger, Hand & Wrist Injuries
- Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR)
- Tendon Transfers of The Hand
- Thumb Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injuries
- Trigger Finger
- Ulnar Neuritis
- WALANT (Wide Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet)
- Wrist Arthroscopy
- Wrist Fractures
- Wrist Tendonitis
The following Florida Orthopaedic Institute physicians specialize in Tendon Transfers of The Hand:
Specialties
- AC Joint Injuries
- Achilles Tendinitis - Achilles Insertional Calcific Tendinopathy (ACIT)
- Achilles Tendon Rupture
- Achilles Tendonitis
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- Aspiration of the Olecranon Bursa
- Atraumatic Shoulder Instability
- Avascular Necrosis (Osteonecrosis)
- Bankart Repair
- Basal Joint Surgery
- Bicep Tendon Tear
- Bicep Tenodesis
- Bone Cement Injection
- Bone Growth Stimulation
- Bone Health Clinic
- Broken Collarbone
- Bunions
- Bursitis of the Shoulder (Subacromial Bursitis)
- Calcific Tendinitis of the Shoulder
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Charcot Joint
- Chiropractic
- Clavicle Fractures
- Colles’ Fractures (Broken Wrist)
- Common Foot Fractures in Athletes
- Community Outreach
- Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
- De Quervain's Tenosynovitis
- Degenerative Disk Disease
- Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH)
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- Dupuytren’s Disease
- Elbow
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- Epidural Injections for Spinal Pain
- Finger Dislocation
- Flexor Tendonitis
- Foot Stress Fractures
- Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg
- Foraminotomy
- Fractured Fingers
- Fractures Of The Shoulder Blade (Scapula)
- Fractures Of The Tibial Spine
- Functional Nerve Transfers of The Hand
- Ganglion Cysts
- General Orthopedics
- Glenoid Labrum Tear
- Golfer's Elbow
- Groin Strains and Pulls
- Growth Plate Injuries Of The Elbow
- Hallux Rigidus Surgery - Cheilectomy
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- Hand & Finger Replantation
- Hand & Wrist
- Hand Nerve Decompression
- Hand Skin Grafts
- Hand, Wrist, Elbow & Shoulder
- Heat Injury/Heat Prostration
- High Ankle Sprain (Syndesmosis Ligament Injury)
- Hip & Thigh
- Hip Arthroscopy
- Hip Dislocation
- Hip Flexor Strains
- Hip Fractures
- Hip Hemiarthroplasty
- Hip Impingement Labral Tears
- Hip Muscle Strains
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- Peripheral Nerve Surgery (Hand) Revision
- Pinched Nerve
- Piriformis Syndrome
- Piriformis Syndrome
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Podiatry
- Primary Care Sports Medicine
- Quadriceps Tendon Tear
- Radial Tunnel Syndrome (Entrapment of the Radial Nerve)
- Revascularization of the Hand
- Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) of the Shoulder
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Of The Hand
- Robotics
- Rotator Cuff Tears
- Runner's Knee
- Sacroiliac Joint Pain
- Sciatica
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- Shoulder
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- Shoulder Injury: Pain In The Overhead Athlete
- Shoulder Replacement
- Shoulder Separations
- Shoulder Socket Fracture (Glenoid Fracture)
- SLAP Tears & Repairs
- Spinal Fusion
- Spine
- Spondylolisthesis and Spondylolysis
- Sports Foot Injuries
- Sports Hernias (Athletic Pubalgia)
- Sports Medicine
- Sports Wrist and Hand Injuries
- Sprained Ankle
- Sprained Wrist Symptoms and Treatment
- Subacromial Decompression
- Sudden (Acute) Finger, Hand & Wrist Injuries
- Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR)
- Tendon Transfers of The Hand
- Tennis Elbow
- Thigh Fractures
- Thigh Muscle Strains
- Thumb Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injuries
- Total Ankle Replacement
- Total Hip Arthroplasty
- Total Hip Replacement - Anterior Approach
- Total Knee Replacement Surgery
- Trapezius Strain (Muscle Strain of The Upper Back)
- Traumatic Shoulder Instability
- Triceps Tendonitis
- Trigger Finger
- Turf Toe
- UCL (Ulnar Collateral Ligament) Injuries
- Ulnar Neuritis
- Valgus Extension Overload
- Vertebroplasty
- WALANT (Wide Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet)
- Whiplash and Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD)
- Wound Care
- Wrist Arthroscopy
- Wrist Fractures
- Wrist Tendonitis
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