Clinical outcomes of early active mobilization following flexor tendon repair using the six-strand technique: short- and long-term evaluations

• Published in: The Journal of hand surgery, European volume European volume, 2015-03, Vol.40 (3), p.250-258
• Main Authors: Moriya, K., Yoshizu, T., Maki, Y., Tsubokawa, N., Narisawa, H., Endo, N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Child; Clinical Competence; Female; Finger Injuries - rehabilitation; Finger Injuries - surgery; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Musculoskeletal Manipulations; Orthopedic Procedures; Suture Techniques; Tendon Injuries - rehabilitation; Tendon Injuries - surgery; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1753-1934; 2043-6289
• DOI: 10.1177/1753193414551682

We evaluated the factors influencing outcomes of flexor tendon repair in 112 fingers using a six-strand suture with the Yoshizu #1 technique and early postoperative active mobilization in 101 consecutive patients. A total of 32 fingers had injuries in Zone I, 78 in Zone II, and two in Zone III. The mean follow-up period was 6 months; 16 patients (19 fingers) participated in long-term follow-up of 2 to 16 years. The total active motion was 230° SD 29°; it correlated negatively with age. The total active motion was 231° SD 28° after repair of the lacerated flexor digitorum superficialis tendon, and was 205° SD 37° after excision of the flexor digitorum superficialis tendon ends (p = 0.0093). A total of 19 fingers showed no significant increases in total active motion more than 2 years after surgery. The rupture rate was 5.4% in our patients and related to surgeons’ level of expertise. Five out of six ruptured tendons were repaired by inexperienced surgeons. Level of Evidence IV