Related Experiment Videos
Flexor tendon sheath haematoma: a case report.
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, New Jeddah Clinic Hospital, Saudi Arabia.
Journal of Hand Surgery (Edinburgh, Scotland)
|February 1, 1989
Summary
A tense flexor tendon sheath hematoma mimicked a flexor tendon division in a little finger injury. Prompt surgical decompression of the hematoma resulted in successful finger function recovery.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Hand Surgery
- Traumatology
Background:
- Open finger injuries often require careful diagnosis to differentiate between tendon damage and other soft tissue pathologies.
- Flexor tendon injuries can lead to significant functional deficits if not accurately identified and managed.
Observation:
- A patient presented with an open injury to the little finger, initially suspected to be a flexor tendon division.
- Surgical exploration revealed that the flexor tendons were intact.
- The tendons were encased within a tense flexor tendon sheath hematoma.
Findings:
- The primary issue was not tendon division but a significant hematoma within the flexor tendon sheath.
- Decompression of the hematoma was performed as the crucial surgical intervention.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of surgical exploration in diagnosing obscure finger injuries.
- Accurate diagnosis and timely decompression of flexor tendon sheath hematomas are critical for restoring finger function.
- Misdiagnosis of tendon division can be avoided by considering hematoma as a differential diagnosis in open finger injuries.