The primary role of the flexor pulley system is to convert linear translation and force in the muscle-tendon into rotation and torque at the finger joints. The pulleys may be destroyed and require reconstruction in hand and finger lacerations. 

Pulleys should not be constructed concurrently with direct repair, tendon grafting, or tenolysis since early active motion could stretch the annular pulley. Instead, reconstruction is done to a remnant of the destroyed pulley, through bone holes, or encircling the phalanx.