title: Double armed reinsertion suture (DARS) of the profundus flexor tendon with immediate active mobilization of the finger. 63 cases.
abstract: Between 1982 and 1994, the authors performed 63 flexor digitorum profundus tendon reinsertions according to the "lost-suture" DARS method (double armed reinsertion suture). This technique consists of 2 Bunnell sutures fixed to the lateral and anterior parts of the cut surface of the tendon. Nylon suture material is passed through a transverse hole made in the base of the distal phalanx. Active flexion without resistance is commenced postoperatively. A similar limit to extension is only applied in the case of an associated lesion if the neurovascular pedicle. Forty tendons were reviewed for this study (patients between the ages of 7 and 75 years, 35 males for 5 females). The lesion involved the thumb in 13 cases and long fingers in 27 cases. According to the authors' criteria, the results were scored as excellent 20% (8 cases); good 70% (28 cases); poor 10% (10 cases). The "lost-suture" DARS technique is a simple method which allows immediate active mobilization of the finger and appears to guarantee satisfactory functional results with no risk of tendon rupture.
authors.affiliation: Hand Surgery Center, Clinica Fornaca, Torino, Italie.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Messina
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Messina
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D005385:Fingers / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D009757:Nylons; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013537:Sutures; D013710:Tendons / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D013717:Tenosynovitis / Q000601:surgery; D013933:Thumb / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D009757:Nylons