Jersey Finger Surgery
Overview
If you have a jersey finger you have a traumatic rupture of the tendon that bends your finger down. Jersey finger gets its name due to athletes who grab their opponent’s jersey as the opponent is running away. This can cause damage to your finger no longer allowing it to close into a fist. Some of the more severe injuries are those where the tendon is pulled away from the bone. You may be experiencing pain or weakness in the affected finger, and we may be able to alleviate this condition with our jersey finger surgery procedure.
How to Prepare for Jersey Finger Surgery
You won’t be able to eat the day you have surgery. You should be able to continue drinking water as normal. Just avoid drinking other beverages, like soda, juice, or milk. We may also ask that you quit taking certain medications like aspirin or anti-inflammatory drugs a few days before surgery. Make sure we know what medications you take regularly.
Procedure
This surgery is an outpatient surgery which means after you wake up you can return home. During this surgery, we will reattach the tendon and fix the fracture. Depending on the severity of your injury, we may also need to repair any bone fractures using pins or screws.
Recovery
When you wake up you will have a splint to help stabilize your hand. After a few weeks of wearing the splint, you will be provided with physical therapy exercises to begin doing at home. These exercises will help you fully recover your finger’s range of motion. You can expect a full recovery within eight to 12 weeks.
Efficacy
Your tendon will be reattached to your finger restoring the ability to bend your fingertip.
Complications
Possible complications include infection, blood loss, and nerve damage as with any surgery.
Outlook
With proper care, you should have a full recovery and use of the injured finger.