To explore the ultrasound features of finger tendon injuries and evaluate the diagnostic value of high-frequency musculoskeletal ultrasound in such injuries.

From January 2021 to December 2024, consecutive patients with suspected finger tendon rupture and suture in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University were collected. Before operation, the patients were evaluated clinically and examined by high-frequency musculoskeletal ultrasound, and ultrasound at passive movement was added in a part of patients. The ultrasound manifestations of finger tendon rupture and tear were summarized. The accuracy of clinical diagnosis and ultrasonic diagnosis was calculated by using surgical exploration results as the gold standard.

A total of 42 patients with finger tendon injuries were included. Clinical diagnosis suggested extensor tendon rupture in 28 patients and flexor tendon rupture in 14. Of 28 patients with extensor tendon injuries, 18 were surgically diagnosed with extensor tendon rupture and 10 with extensor tendon tear; of 14 patients with flexor tendon injuries, 10 were surgically diagnosed with flexor tendon rupture and 4 with flexor tendon tear. Ultrasonic diagnosis of extensor tendon injuries suggested 19 cases of extensor tendon rupture, manifested as extensor tendon continuity interruption, of which 10 (10/11) had disappearance of ultrasonic manifestations at passive movement; 9 cases of extensor tendon tear, manifested as local interruption of extensor tendon muscle fibers, swelling, and thinning, of which 2 (2/3) had ultrasonic manifestations at passive movement and 4 were accompanied by avulsion fracture. The coincidence rate of clinical diagnosis of extensor tendon injuries was 64.29% (18/28), and that of ultrasonic diagnosis was 96.43% (27/28). Ultrasonic diagnosis of flexor tendon injuries suggested 11 cases of flexor tendon rupture, manifested as extensor tendon continuity interruption, of which 9 (9/9) had disappearance of ultrasonic manifestations at passive movement; and 3 cases of flexor tendon tear, manifested as muscle fiber local interruption, not reaching the full layer, of which 1 (1/2) had ultrasonic manifestations at passive movement. The coincidence rate of clinical diagnosis was 71.43% (10/14), and that of ultrasonic diagnosis was 92.86% (13/14).

High-frequency musculoskeletal ultrasound has high diagnostic value for finger tendon injuries. Adding passive motion examination in the process of ultrasound examination can increase the accuracy of finger tendon injury diagnosis.