[The results of primary repair and early passive rehabilitation in zone II flexor tendon injuries in children].
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the results of zone II flexor tendon injuries treated by primary repair and early rehabilitation in children under the age of 14 years.


METHODS
The study included 25 digits of 23 patients (12 boys, 11 girls; mean age 7 years; range 2 to 14 years) with appropriate follow-up. Sixteen patients underwent surgery within the first 24 hours, while the remaining patients had surgery in a mean of three days (range 2 to 14 days). Digital nerve injuries were detected in 10 digits (40%). Repair of the tendons was performed with the use of a modified Kessler technique followed by an above-elbow stabilization splint. Passive flexion-extension exercises were started on the postoperative first day according to the Duran technique. The results were evaluated according to the Glocovac and Strickland's criteria. The mean follow up period was 49 months (range 12 to 92 months).


RESULTS
Functional results were excellent in 18 digits (72%), good in five digits (20%), fair in one digit (4%), and poor in one digit (4%). The mean total active movement was 78.5% (range 0% to 100%). No significant differences were observed in functional results with regard to age groups and the presence or absence of digital nerve injuries (p>0.05). No occurrences of infection were encountered.


CONCLUSIONS
The results show that primary repair and early passive mobilization of zone II flexor tendon injuries in children yield satisfactory results.
Kayali
Cemil
C
SSK Tepecik Eğitim Hastanesi II. Ortopedi ve Travmatoloji Kliniği, Izmir, Turkey. cemilkayali@yahoo.com
Eren
Ahmet
A
Ağuş
Haluk
H
Arslantaş
Mustafa
M
Ozçalabi
I Türkay
IT
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery*; D013710:Tendons / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome