title: A post-operative regime after digital flexor tenolysis. A series of 72 patients.
abstract: Tenolysis of the flexor tendons was performed in 78 fingers (72 patients) by the same surgeon. Two technical modifications were introduced: reconstruction of a robust pulley; and initial immobilization with the tendon in a proximally migrated position, permitting later breakdown of early adhesions by gentle extension either by the surgeon or using an extension spring. After a mean follow-up of 21.5 months, the total active movement was improved from 135 degrees (pre-operative) to 203 degrees (post-operative) in 84% of fingers and from 65 degrees to 115 degrees in 78% of thumbs. This corresponds to a reduction in impairment of 10.1% for the thumb and 21.6% for the fingers. There was no improvement in four digits and nine cases were made worse, averaging a loss of range of 25.4 degrees. Among these were two cases of skin breakdown and two cases of tendon rupture (2.5%), one combined with skin necrosis.
authors.affiliation: SOS Main, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Foucher
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lenoble
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ben Youssef
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sammut
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005385:Fingers; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013165:Splints; D013710:Tendons / Q000601:surgery* / Q000637:transplantation; D013933:Thumb; D013997:Time Factors; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D014143:Traction