Primary Flexor Tendon Repair with Early Active Motion: Experience in Europe

Thomas Giesen; Maurizio Calcagni; David Elliot

doi:10.1016/j.hcl.2017.03.001

Primary Flexor Tendon Repair with Early Active Motion: Experience in Europe

Hand Clin. 2017 Aug;33(3):465-472. doi: 10.1016/j.hcl.2017.03.001.

Authors

Thomas Giesen¹, Maurizio Calcagni², David Elliot³

Affiliations

¹ Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery Division, University Hospital Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, Zurich 8091, Switzerland. Electronic address: Thomas.giesen@usz.ch.
² Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery Division, University Hospital Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, Zurich 8091, Switzerland.
³ St. Andrew's Centre for Plastic Surgery and Burns, Broomfield Hospital, Court Road, Broomfield CM1, UK.

PMID: 28673623
DOI: 10.1016/j.hcl.2017.03.001

Abstract

The protocol for primary flexor tendon repair in zones 1 and 2 of the hand is changing. This article discusses recent changes. Immediate repair within 48 hours is performed whenever possible. A 6-strand core suture is performed using the M modification of Tang's technique. The pulleys are divided to allow free excursion of the repaired tendon within the tendon sheath. To avoid repaired structures within the sheath being too bulky, the authors generally repair only half of the flexor digitorum superficialis. In some cases, the flexor digitorum superficialis is excised completely. Rehabilitation remains based on controlled active motion.

Keywords: Early active motion; FDS resection; No circumferential suture; Primary flexor tendon repair; Pulley management.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Europe
Fingers / surgery*
Humans
Movement*
Muscle, Skeletal / surgery
Suture Techniques*
Tendons / surgery*