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Flexor Tendon Avulsion/Jersey Finger, Sports Medicine

Chau Bui, DO and Suraj A. Achar, MD, FAAFP, CAQSM Reviewed 04/2019
 


BASICS

An acute injury in which there is an avulsion of the flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) tendon off of the volar aspect of the distal phalanx due to forced hyperextension of the distal interphalan...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • The mechanism of injury involves a sudden forceful extension of a flexed finger which often occurs while grasping another player’s jersey 3[C].

  • Typically seen in football and rugby 1[C...

TREATMENT

ALERT
  • All FDP avulsion injuries require urgent surgical intervention 3[C].

  • Initial management may include ice, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and splinting.

  • The injured finger s...

ONGOING CARE

  • Following surgery, the affected hand should be placed in a dorsal blocking splint with the wrist in midflexion, the MCP joints at 75 degrees of flexion, and the PIP/DIP joints in extensio...

REFERENCES

1
Elzinga KE, Chung KC. Finger injuries in football and rugby. Hand Clin.  2017;33(1):149–160.
2
Tempelaere C, Brun M, Doursounian L, et al. Traumatic avulsion of the flexor digitorum pro...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • An acute diagnosis of jersey finger requires urgent surgical treatment 4.

  • Return to contact sports may be anticipated 4 to 6 mo after surgery 7.

  • Depending on the sport, it may be possibl...

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