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

摘要

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 degrees SD 29 degrees; it correlated negatively with age. The total active motion was 231 degrees SD 28 degrees after repair of the lacerated flexor digitorum superficialis tendon, and was 205 degrees SD 37 degrees 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