The effect of vincular injury on the results of flexor tendon surgery in zone 2.
From a consecutive series of 82 fingers (69 patients) that sustained flexor tendon lacerations in zone 2, 47 fingers (39 patients) had the status of the vincular system determined during primary repair. The vincula were intact in 22 fingers and not intact in 25. Total active motion (TAM) after rehabilitation and before a reconstructive procedure, such as repair of a rupture, tenolysis, or grafting of a tendon, was the end point of the study. The overall mean TAM was 196 degrees. The mean TAM was 222 degrees for fingers with intact vincula and 176 degrees for fingers with vincula not intact (p less than 0.01). There were no statistical differences between the two groups regarding surgical results when the number of tendons injured per finger and sheath closure were analyzed. This study suggests that the integrity of the vincular system is a determinant of end result TAM and flexor tendon lacerations in zone 2.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005385:Fingers / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013710:Tendons / Q000098:blood supply / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*