Immediate insertion of silicone rubber rods in fingers with cut flexor tendons.
In 7 patients with cut flexor tendons of the hand, we did an immediate quantitative bacterial analysis of the wounds. These showed fewer than 10(5) bacteria per gram of tissue, so we inserted silicone rubber rods in 10 of these fingers. All healed without infection, and this shortened the reconstruction. In retrospect, we believe it best not to insert the rods primarily in crush injuries. However, this seems to be a safe, worthwhile measure for those patients with sharp injuries of the tendons.
D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D012826:Silicone Elastomers; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D013710:Tendons / Q000637:transplantation; D013997:Time Factors; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous
D012826:Silicone Elastomers