Complications experienced in the rehabilitation of zone I flexor tendon injuries with dynamic traction splinting.
A retrospective review of all flexor tendon repairs done between January 1985 to June 1987 determined the complication rate with our method of rehabilitation. One hundred sixty-three flexor tendon lacerations in 83 patients were reviewed. Follow-up ranged from 6 to 42 months. All patients participated in the same 12-week rehabilitation protocol. All patients had passive motion exercises of the interphalangeal joints in the first 2 weeks. We believe that passive stretching of zone I injuries during the first 2 weeks contributed to the zone I complication rate. Of the 20 patients with zone I tendon-to-tendon repairs, 7 patients had significant complications. The 35% complication rate found with zone I injuries has prompted us to modify our postoperative rehabilitation protocol in zone I injuries.
Gerbino
P G
PG
Department of Orthopedics, Naval Hospital Portsmouth, VA 23708-5000.
Saldana
M J
MJ
Westerbeck
P
P
Schacherer
T G
TG
D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008722:Methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D013165:Splints; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D014143:Traction