What is the FPL tendon?
What does the Flexor Pollicis Longus (FPL) Tendon do? The FPL tendon bends the tip of the thumb. It also works together with another tendon to bend the thumb over the base of the little finger. Your FPL starts in the tip of your thumb, travels through the wrist and attaches to a muscle in your forearm.
How long does it take for a flexor tendon to heal?
Your tendon will take up to 12 weeks to completely heal and it is important to follow all advice to avoid rupturing your tendon. Why is it important to protect my repaired tendon/s?
How long does a torn tendon in finger take to heal?
If your tendon is only stretched, not torn, it should heal in 4 to 6 weeks if you wear a splint all the time. If your tendon is torn or pulled off the bone, it should heal in 6 to 8 weeks of wearing a splint all the time. After that, you will need to wear your splint for another 3 to 4 weeks, at night only.
How do you fix a flexor tendon?
Surgery will be required in order to repair the damaged tendon. A small incision is made to locate the ends of the tendon and they are then stitched back together. Flexor tendons are often difficult to get to and are located near important nerves so repair will generally occur under a general anaesthetic.
Will a torn tendon heal without surgery?
More than 90% of tendon injuries are long term in nature, and 33-90% of these chronic rupture symptoms go away without surgery. In contrast, acute rupture, as occurs with trauma, may or may not be repaired surgically depending on the severity of the tear.
Is it possible to repair the FPL tendon?
Recent practice (see Chapter 16) has established that primary repair of the FPL tendon is desirable where possible and 70% to 80% of the results will be within the excellent or good range, although it should be noted that “excellent” in our current classifications does not imply return to normal function.
How is the FPL tendon cut in the thumb?
If the tendon channel is intact the distal part of the FPL tendon is shortened to 1 cm, the FDS IV tendon is cut distal to the chiasma of Camper, pulled through the carpal tunnel and moved into the channel of the FPL tendon and fixed transosseously through the base of the distal phalanx of the thumb.
Is the FPL tendon too swollen to pass under the A1 pulley?
B, The FPL tendon is too swollen to pass under the A1 pulley. C, The tendon is narrowed by distal splitting. D, Repair with two Kessler sutures at 90° and a simple running circumferential suture, with the repair allowing full IP extension without snagging of the repair on the A2 pulley or the junction of the tendon split snagging on the A1 pulley.
Which is a problem preventing primary FPL repair?
However, the most significant problem preventing primary FPL repair is the propensity of the FPL muscle to contract after division of the tendon, 9 and proximal tendon lengthening to deal with this eventuality can be considered an extension of primary repair or a technique of secondary reconstruction.