title: Extensor tendon rehabilitation a prospective trial comparing three rehabilitation regimes.
abstract: Forty-two patients with 46 complete extensor tendon injuries were prospectively allocated to one of three rehabilitation regimes: static splintage; interphalangeal joint mobilization with metacarpophalangeal joint immobilization or; the "Norwich" regime. All 42 patients were operated on by one surgeon and assessed by one hand therapist. At 4 weeks the total active motion in the static splintage group was significantly reduced but by 12 weeks there was no difference between the regimes. There was no difference in total active motion between the repaired and uninjured hand at 12 weeks, with all patients achieving good or excellent results. However, grip strength at 12 weeks was significantly reduced compared to the uninjured hand after static splintage. There was no difference in hand therapy input between the regimes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery and Hand Therapy Unit, Mount Vernon Hospital, Northwood, Middlesex, HA6 2RN, UK.
authors.forename: N W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Bulstrode
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Burr
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Pratt
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Grobbelaar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005384:Finger Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D013165:Splints; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000503:physiopathology