Posted: 7/18/2013 4:42:29 PM EDT
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Sliced open the back of my left middle finger a week ago. Went to my doctor, he said, I can't sew this up, you've cut your tendon. Go to the ER.
I was worried, but puzzled, since I could both flex and extend it with no problem or discomfort. But off to the ER. 2 PAs cleaned it out and sewed it up, 10 stitches. Said the tendon looked okay, but had me extend it several times anyway, checking both at the base of the finger and at the tip. So it's bandaged and splinted, stitches are due to come out Saturday.500 mg cephalexin every 6 hours until then. My question is, should I assume there was some tendon damage, like a nick? And if so, how long should I keep it splinted to be safe? Just to be clear, this is the extensor tendon in question. TL:DR crowd........... Sliced finger with Kershaw EDC. Trying to prevent further complications. BTW, the PA commented on how sharp the knife must have been to make such a clean cut. 
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Test full ROM when stitches out. If anything is awry go see a orthopedic hand specialist.
FWIW even a severed a tendon can sometime appear to have full function due to collateral effects of other structures in the hand. Saw that once when a dude with a tile saw made a little boo-boo on his wrist. Seemed to have good motion, but sent to hand guy anyway. Had several sliced up tendons. |
I sliced mine open pretty good with a miter saw back in April. I may have barely knicked the tendon, but ER said not to worry since I had full function & feeling. When you get the stitches out, slowly start working the finger. I didn't work mine as much as I should have, and my finger is stiff.
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I cut a tendon of my middle finger of my right hand in high school. It was not severed, but the surgeon said it needed to be reinforced or it would break later.
I have a tiny knot of stainless wire in my hand to this day. I can feel the lump moving under my skin when I flex my finger. |
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I sliced mine open pretty good with a miter saw back in April. I may have barely knicked the tendon, but ER said not to worry since I had full function & feeling. When you get the stitches out, slowly start working the finger. I didn't work mine as much as I should have, and my finger is stiff. http://i39.tinypic.com/2u7aa9e.jpg 
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I sliced mine open pretty good with a miter saw back in April. I may have barely knicked the tendon, but ER said not to worry since I had full function & feeling. When you get the stitches out, slowly start working the finger. I didn't work mine as much as I should have, and my finger is stiff. http://i39.tinypic.com/2u7aa9e.jpg Mine was sliced up pretty good, middle section of the finger, plus at least 1/2" beyond each of the two knuckles. Didn't hurt then, still doesn't. A little itchy every once in a while. You're lucky. I've seen some bad shit with miter saws. Always plan your cuts. If you're thinking this particular cut is dangerous, it is. Find another way to hold the piece. And NEVER, EVER cross your arms in front of the saw!!!!! (Holding the right side of the piece down with your left and cutting with your right, or vice-versa) |
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Gun Board knowledge > People in a hospital that studied this shit knowledge This place is certainly more entertaining than the ER was. But I did ask for Arfcom docs Like I said in my OP, one doctor said the tendon was cut (30 second examination while I was bleeding into his sink) while the PA who cleaned it out, looked inside, and took her time sewing it said she didn't see any damage. I'm mostly trying to find out how long, if there was a nick in the tendon, I need to protect the digit so the tendon heals. |
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This place is certainly more entertaining than the ER was. But I did ask for Arfcom docs Like I said in my OP, one doctor said the tendon was cut (30 second examination while I was bleeding into his sink) while the PA who cleaned it out, looked inside, and took her time sewing it said she didn't see any damage. I'm mostly trying to find out how long, if there was a nick in the tendon, I need to protect the digit so the tendon heals. Quoted:
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Gun Board knowledge > People in a hospital that studied this shit knowledge This place is certainly more entertaining than the ER was. But I did ask for Arfcom docs Like I said in my OP, one doctor said the tendon was cut (30 second examination while I was bleeding into his sink) while the PA who cleaned it out, looked inside, and took her time sewing it said she didn't see any damage. I'm mostly trying to find out how long, if there was a nick in the tendon, I need to protect the digit so the tendon heals. 8 weeks. |
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f5 f5 f5 My phone was just about dead, and I needed to save the battery to call for a ride back to my truck, so no pics. Thought about it, though, 2 inch cut, plus or minus, through 2 knuckles and the middle section of the finger. When I walked through the first doctor's office, it looked like somebody'd dragged a slaughtered pig through there. |
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This place is certainly more entertaining than the ER was. But I did ask for Arfcom docs Like I said in my OP, one doctor said the tendon was cut (30 second examination while I was bleeding into his sink) while the PA who cleaned it out, looked inside, and took her time sewing it said she didn't see any damage. I'm mostly trying to find out how long, if there was a nick in the tendon, I need to protect the digit so the tendon heals. Quoted:
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Gun Board knowledge > People in a hospital that studied this shit knowledge This place is certainly more entertaining than the ER was. But I did ask for Arfcom docs Like I said in my OP, one doctor said the tendon was cut (30 second examination while I was bleeding into his sink) while the PA who cleaned it out, looked inside, and took her time sewing it said she didn't see any damage. I'm mostly trying to find out how long, if there was a nick in the tendon, I need to protect the digit so the tendon heals. If you're interested, I have a chronic scapho-lunate ligament tear that I was lucky enough receive while playing rugby in college. I can tell you with absolute certainty that if you wait ten years....... You're fucked. They can't fix it. Well they can, but it involves them fusing a few of your wrist bones together......and shit. And I trust my PA more than I trust my GP doc. |
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Quoted: My phone was just about dead, and I needed to save the battery to call for a ride back to my truck, so no pics. Thought about it, though, 2 inch cut, plus or minus, through 2 knuckles and the middle section of the finger. When I walked through the first doctor's office, it looked like somebody'd dragged a slaughtered pig through there. Quoted: Quoted: f5 f5 f5 My phone was just about dead, and I needed to save the battery to call for a ride back to my truck, so no pics. Thought about it, though, 2 inch cut, plus or minus, through 2 knuckles and the middle section of the finger. When I walked through the first doctor's office, it looked like somebody'd dragged a slaughtered pig through there.  Get your ass back in there and get to clicking, Mister! YOu can always borrow someone else's phone to call for a ride.
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My phone was just about dead, and I needed to save the battery to call for a ride back to my truck, so no pics. Thought about it, though, 2 inch cut, plus or minus, through 2 knuckles and the middle section of the finger. When I walked through the first doctor's office, it looked like somebody'd dragged a slaughtered pig through there. Quoted:
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f5 f5 f5 My phone was just about dead, and I needed to save the battery to call for a ride back to my truck, so no pics. Thought about it, though, 2 inch cut, plus or minus, through 2 knuckles and the middle section of the finger. When I walked through the first doctor's office, it looked like somebody'd dragged a slaughtered pig through there. Then....since you're looking for advice.....You need to learn some basic first aid. Blood loss happens to be messy and tends to not be all that healthy. It seems that you either don't have a first aid kit that stays nearby or that it sucks and the biggest bandaid in it wasn't going to cut it. |
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When I was 15 i put my hand through a glass window. It cut the side of my wrist with the thumb on it down to the thumb tendon. You could plainly see it. It much has nicked it but just a little to rough it up. For years afterwards grabbing my wrist was very painful where the tendon was. I don't know if it was scar tissue or a rough spot on the tendon.
Someone grabbed me by the wrist once and it resulted in them getting sucker punched when they wouldn't let go. |
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Then....since you're looking for advice.....You need to learn some basic first aid. Blood loss happens to be messy and tends to not be all that healthy. It seems that you either don't have a first aid kit that stays nearby or that it sucks and the biggest bandaid in it wasn't going to cut it. Quoted:
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f5 f5 f5 My phone was just about dead, and I needed to save the battery to call for a ride back to my truck, so no pics. Thought about it, though, 2 inch cut, plus or minus, through 2 knuckles and the middle section of the finger. When I walked through the first doctor's office, it looked like somebody'd dragged a slaughtered pig through there. Then....since you're looking for advice.....You need to learn some basic first aid. Blood loss happens to be messy and tends to not be all that healthy. It seems that you either don't have a first aid kit that stays nearby or that it sucks and the biggest bandaid in it wasn't going to cut it. Point taken. I used to carry a pretty decent kit, but this is the worst injury I've had in about 25 years in construction, many of them working solo. I got complacent, the kit got old and out of date, I'm not even sure where it is any more. Be shopping for a kit this weekend. |
I did this a few years ago. There were eight inside stitches along with the eight showing in the picture. Tendons and nerves were severed. One thing the Dr. told me was I had 10 days to get them fixed or they would not be able to join them back together. I have about 95% of original motion and almost normal feeling. I have to be careful not to bump certain areas were the nerves knitted. The pain generated can bring me to my knees. Picture shown is pre-surgery. They had to make additional cuts to get to the tendons that retracted.
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