Tendon Injuries of the Hand: A Study on Pattern/Epidemiology of Cases at a Suburban Tertiary Hospital, Nigeria

Background: Tendon injuries of the hand are one of the commonest presentations of hand injuries which itself bears a social and economic burden to the society as the most commonly affected are the active and working age groups. Most of these injuries will require surgical intervention to restore aesthetics, structure and function.

Objective: This study seeks to assess the pattern of these injuries, etiology and reappraise the preventive modalities with the aim of reducing incidence in our immediate environment.

Methods: A retrospective study of patients who presented and were managed surgically for tendon injuries of the hand with or without injury to other structures of the hand between January 2017 and December 2021. The operation registers as well as case notes of patients were the sources of the information. Information obtained included patients’ biodata, aetiology and pattern of injury, hand involved (whether right or left), collateral injuries as well as surgery offered. The results were analysed using SPSS version 20 and descriptive statistics used to represent frequency distribution.

Results: In the five years under review, a total of 27 patients were managed for hand injuries during the period of study, however, only 21 cases which involved tendon injuries were analyzed making it 77.7% occurrence in hand injuries. There were 17 males [84.2%] and 4 females [15.7%] giving a male to female ratio of 4.25:1. The mean age was 30.3 ± 17.10 years and the highest incidence of tendon injury; 9 (42.8%) occurred within the age range of 21-30 years of age. Industrial accident due to grinding machines, 8(38%) was the commonest cause of tendon associated hand injuries, followed by matchet cut injury to the hand following assault 6(28.6%). The overall most common tendon injury was flexor tendon injury (71.4%) with the right hand being most commonly affected; 16(76.2%). All patients had tendon repair done alongside repair of other associated injuries of the hand.

Conclusion: Our study reveals tendon injuries of the hand as a common occurrence following hand injuries and seen among the economically active groups with crippling implications. In addition to its proper management by a skilled surgeon, preventive measures should be implemented to reduce its occurrence.