How is a cut tendon treated?

A cut tendon is repaired surgically by retrieving the ends and sewing them together with a strong core repair, addressing any associated nerve or vessel injury at the same time. The repair is then paired with a guided hand-therapy program that protects it while restoring smooth gliding of the tendon.

Why is my finger not moving if the cut was small?

Tendons are under tension, so when one is divided the cut end can retract out of sight even through a small skin wound. That is why a finger can lose the ability to bend or straighten after what looks like a minor cut, and why loss of movement should be evaluated promptly.

How important is hand therapy after the repair?

It is essential. Early protected motion under a hand therapist keeps the tendon gliding and prevents the scar and stiffness that limit results, while protecting the repair from rupture. Skipping or rushing therapy is the most common reason a tendon repair disappoints.

How long until the finger works normally?

Tendon repairs are protected for roughly the first six weeks, with progressive motion and then strengthening over the following weeks. Most patients are working back to full strength by around three months, though the exact timeline depends on which tendon and zone were involved.

Tendon Laceration, Steven J. Lee, MD

Tendons are the cables that connect muscles to bone and move the fingers. When a tendon is cut, usually by a sharp injury, the finger loses the movement that tendon controls: a cut flexor tendon prevents bending, a cut extensor tendon prevents full straightening. Because tendons are under tension, the cut ends often retract, so the finger may not work even though the skin wound looks small.

Tendon repair is as much about the rehabilitation as the surgery. The repair must be precise, and the early motion program must protect it while preventing the stiffness and scarring that limit results.

Flexor versus extensor injuries

Flexor tendons run on the palm side and bend the fingers. Injuries here, especially in the demanding zone within the finger sometimes called no-man's-land, are technically challenging and need meticulous repair and a carefully staged therapy program.

Extensor tendons run on the back of the hand and straighten the fingers. Their repair and rehabilitation vary by zone and are often more forgiving, though they still require a protected motion protocol.

How it is evaluated

The diagnosis is usually clear from the inability to bend or straighten the finger and from the wound. Because nerves and blood vessels travel alongside the tendons, the whole injury is examined together, and a wound suggesting a deep, sharp cut is explored and repaired.

Dr. Lee's approach

Dr. Lee approaches a cut tendon as part of the whole injury, checking the nearby nerves and blood vessels at the same time. The tendon is repaired with a strong, low-profile technique that is built to tolerate the early guided motion that protects the result.

The repair is then paired with a hand-therapy program matched to the tendon and zone involved. Getting the rehabilitation right is what separates a finger that moves well from one that stiffens or ruptures.

Surgical repair

The cut ends are retrieved and sewn together with a strong core repair, restoring the tendon's continuity. Any associated nerve or vessel injury is addressed in the same setting.

Guided rehabilitation

Early protected motion under a hand therapist's guidance keeps the tendon gliding and prevents binding scar, while protecting the repair from forces that could rupture it. The exact protocol depends on which tendon and zone were involved.

Recovery timeline

Tendon repair recovery is built around protecting the repair while restoring glide:

Weeks 0 to 6
The repair is protected in a splint with an early, guided motion program from a hand therapist. Active loading is avoided to protect the repair from rupture.
Weeks 6 to 12
Progressive active motion and then gentle strengthening as the repair matures, advancing on the therapist's schedule.
Months 3 and beyond
Return to full strength and activity as healing allows. Scar management and motion work continue until the finger glides freely.

What patients commonly misunderstand

What patients often misunderstand:

A small cut can still divide a tendon. Because tendons are under tension, a cut end can retract out of sight, so a finger can stop bending or straightening even when the skin wound looks minor. Loss of movement after a cut needs prompt evaluation.
Therapy is not optional. The hand-therapy program is part of the repair, not an add-on. Skipping or rushing it leads to stiffness or rupture, which are the main reasons tendon results disappoint.

This page is general educational content authored by Dr. Lee. It is not a substitute for individual medical advice. Every patient's case is different, book a consultation to discuss yours.

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Tendon Laceration: precise repair and a guided motion program.