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Tendon injuries (general principles)

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Complete laceration or rupture of a tendon is associated with:

  • loss of all normal movement distally
  • occasional trick movements from other muscles (eg the small muscles of the thumb can mimic the movement of a divided extensor pollicis longus)

Partial laceration or rupture of a tendon is associated with:

  • a movement with a slight lag or
  • pain on a particular movement

Suspected or obvious tendon laceration immediate treatment:

  • cover the wound with a sterile dressing
  • elevate the arm and hand
  • refer to A/E dept for specialist treatment

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The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

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