Flexor tendon repair in zone II with 6-strand techniques and early active mobilization.
OBJECTIVE
There are many biomechanic studies of 6-strand suture techniques for active mobilization, but few reports have described the clinical outcome in zone II flexor tendon lacerations. We discuss the clinical results of zone II flexor tendon repair using 2 of these techniques followed by controlled early active mobilization.


METHODS
Six-strand sutures using the number 1 technique by Yoshizu or a triple-looped suture technique were used to repair flexor tendons in 27 fingers from 21 consecutive patients. Fingers were mobilized by combining active extension and passive or active flexion in a protective splint for the first 3 weeks after surgery. The follow-up period averaged 13 months.


RESULTS
Based on the original Strickland criteria, the results were excellent in 17 fingers, good in 9, and fair in 1. The average flexion was 62 degrees for distal interphalangeal joints and 91 degrees for proximal interphalangeal joints. None of the repaired tendons ruptured.


CONCLUSIONS
The 6-strand flexor tendon suture technique followed by controlled active mobilization protected with a dorsal splint is safe, produces no ruptures, and achieves very good results in zone II flexor tendon laceration repair.


METHODS
Therapeutic, Level II.
Osada
Denju
D
Department of Orthopaedics, Dokkyo University School of Medicine, Tochigi, Japan. osada@dokkyomed.ac.jp
Fujita
Satoshi
S
Tamai
Kazuya
K
Yamaguchi
Tetsuhiko
T
Iwamoto
Akira
A
Saotome
Koichi
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D052580:Muscle Stretching Exercises / Q000379:methods*; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D013165:Splints; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*