From gripping a coffee cup to typing an email, our hands perform countless tasks every day. But when trauma, severe lacerations, or complex injuries damage tendons and nerves, these essential movements can be lost. That’s where advanced hand reconstruction comes in. Here’s how these innovative procedures help you regain movement and independence.
Understanding the Complexity of Hand Injuries
The human hand contains dozens of tendons and an intricate network of nerves. Tendons connect muscles to bone through a complicated system of pulleys, enabling movement, while nerves provide sensation and control. Damage to either structure can lead to loss of motion, strength, and coordination. In many cases, both tendons and nerves are injured together, requiring careful surgical planning to restore as much function as possible.
Understanding Tendon Repair
Tendon repair involves reconnecting or reconstructing damaged tendons to restore movement. In the hand, this can include:
- Flexor tendon repair to restore bending of the fingers and thumb.
- Extensor tendon repair to regain straightening motion.
- Staged tendon grafts when the original tendon is too damaged to be repaired directly.
Postoperative rehabilitation is crucial, as scar tissue can limit motion if not managed with guided therapy.
Nerves: The Hand’s Communication Network
Nerve repair aims to restore sensation and motor control by reconnecting severed or damaged nerves. Depending on the extent of injury, this may involve:
- Direct nerve repair when the ends can be stitched together without tension.
- Nerve grafting using donor nerve tissue to bridge gaps.
- Nerve transfers rerouting a healthy nerve to take over the function of a damaged one.
Recovery from nerve repair can be gradual and lengthy, as nerves regenerate slowly—about one millimeter per day—making early diagnosis and intervention critical.
Combining Tendon and Nerve Reconstruction
When both structures are injured, surgery must balance the need for tendon mobility with the delicate process of nerve regeneration. Advanced hand reconstruction often involves staged procedures, microscope assisted surgical techniques, and close coordination with hand therapists. The goal is not only to restore motion but also to regain the fine tactile feedback that makes the hand so unique and versatile.
Who Can Benefit from These Procedures?
- Tendon and nerve repair may be recommended for:
- Traumatic injuries from accidents or sports
- Deep lacerations involving sharp objects
- Severe crush injuries
- Complex hand fractures with associated soft tissue damage
Restore Strength, Sensation, and Dexterity
If you’ve sustained an upper extremity injury affecting your tendons or nerves, advanced surgical options can help you regain essential function. Book an appointment with our upper extremity orthopedic specialists at the Hand, Wrist & Elbow Institute at MOR to discuss tendon and nerve repair strategies tailored to your specific injury and recovery goals.