Laceration on back of knuckle - tendon FUBARed?

[present tense]

<p>
Embarrassed to admit that I was in a very irrresponsoble hand/blade position yesterday and cut my self pretty good on the back of my left index finger middle (?) knuckle. Cut is clean and have promoted healing and immobilized finger to avoid re-separating wound. I&#39;m now realizing that finger has a stiff feeling and won&#39;t bend past &nbsp;about 45 degrees beyond Vertical. Pain was bad after injury but all good now, feeling and sensation seem fine except stiffness right at the knuckle joint.</p>
<p>
Also on a trip up in the mountains and at least a day or two from getting it looked at as even an option. Any advice or war stories? My gut tells me it&#39;s fine and I&#39;ve had similar cuts where the range of motion takes a while to return, on the other side the pessimist in me says it&#39;s severe tendon damage, needs surgury and more sense of urgency. Worst case scenario, it&#39;s non dominant hand, so just see what happens?</p>

[old goat]

A cut tendon on the back of the knuckle would keep you from straightening the finger, not bending it. If the cut went into the joint capsule there may be some blood in there that's making the joint stiff or there may just be generalized swelling of the tissues. In either case the blood or swelling should go away. As long as there is no major redness or pus draining there's need to do anything acutely. Since you're already trying to flex it I'm guessing the cut happened a while ago so you aren't worried about reopening the cut. When the cut is completely healed gently and progressively flexing the joint actively (using the muscles in the injured hand) and passively (bending the finger with the other hand) should restore full range of motion although it might take a month or longer. I would see a hand specialist doctor and/or and occupational therapist if full range of motion is job or hobby critical. (Occupational therapists do physical therapy of the hand, not physical therapists.)