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Understanding Hand Injuries From Tendon Damage to Fractures

Writer: Joe Wessels
Joe Wessels
Sep 9
2 min read

When your hand hurts, daily activities from typing and driving to holding a cup of coffee can become difficult. Hand injuries range from minor soft-tissue strains to complex fractures and severe soft-tissue trauma. Understanding the cause of hand pain and seeking specialist care promptly is crucial to preserving long-term mobility and function.


Common Types of Hand Injuries


1. Hand Tendon Injuries


Flexor tendons (on the palm side) and extensor tendons (on the back of the hand) enable fingers to bend and straighten. A hand tendon injury can result from deep cuts, sharp lacerations, or sudden force (such as catching a finger on a jersey during sports).


  • Symptoms: Inability to bend or straighten a finger, pain in the tips of fingers, or a popping sensation at the time of injury.

  • Treatment: Tendons do not heal well on their own if completely severed. Surgical repair by an orthopaedic hand specialist followed by structured hand therapy is often necessary to restore motion.


2. Fractures and Broken Hands


A broken hand or fractured hand involves a crack or complete break in one or more of the metacarpal bones or phalanges (finger bones). These frequently occur from blunt force impact, fall-related trauma, or sports injuries.


  • Symptoms: Acute pain, visible swelling, bruising, inability to grip objects, or misalignment of the fingers.

  • Treatment: Minor, non-displaced fractures are treated with splinting or casting. Displaced fractures may require surgical fixation using pins, plates, or screws.


3. Severe Soft Tissue and Degloving Injuries


A degloving injury of the hand is a severe medical emergency where the top layers of skin and tissue are forcibly peeled away from the underlying muscle, tendons, and bone. These severe traumatic injuries require immediate surgical reconstruction and multidisciplinary care.


When to See an Upper Limb Specialist


Minor hand pain may resolve with rest and icing, but you should seek specialised orthopaedic evaluation if you experience:


  • Severe, localised hand or finger pain that worsens with movement.

  • Visible deformity or abnormal positioning of a finger.

  • Numbness, tingling, or coldness in the fingertips.

  • Inability to flex or extend fingers after a sudden force or cut.

 
 
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