Staged flexor tendon reconstruction fingertip to palm.
Thirty-five fingertip to palm staged flexor tendon reconstructions were performed between 1971 and 1998. Tendon injuries involved 5 avulsions and 30 lacerations, 9 of which had failed primary tenorrhaphies. Follow-up evaluation averaged 30 months. Thirteen patients had total active motion (TAM) of > or =220 degrees (excellent), 11 patients had TAM of 200 degrees to 219 degrees (good), 7 patients had TAM of 180 degrees to 199 degrees (fair), and 4 patients had TAM of <180 degrees (poor). Less favorable results occurred in those with a >1-year interval between injury and stage I, in those with a >6-month interval between stage I and stage II, and in those with a higher injury severity classification. Fingertip to palm staged flexor tendon reconstruction produced 69% good to excellent results. This technique allows the use of the injured digit profundus as the motor, preserves lumbrical function, and requires less tendon graft length (palmaris longus usually suffices).
Section of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, St. Peter's University Hospital and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, 215 Easton Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA.
Michael P
MP
Coyle
Timothy P
TP
Leddy
Joseph P
JP
Leddy
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013708:Tendon Injuries; D013710:Tendons / Q000601:surgery*