Rupture of the flexor digitorum profundus tendon in the palm caused by repeated, chronic direct trauma

Nonrheumatoid ruptures of the flexor tendons in the palm are rare. We report a case in which excessive exertion caused rupture of the flexor digitorum profundus tendon to the small finger in the palm at the level of the lumbrical origin. The patient had been practicing Japanese fencing for many years. The hard butt end of a bamboo sword impinged precisely on the region in the palm where the rupture occurred.