The results of immediate re-repair of zone 1 and 2 primary flexor tendon repairs which rupture.
This study reports the outcome of immediate re-repair of primary flexor tendon repairs in zones 1 and 2 of the fingers which had ruptured. Between June 1989 and May 2003, a total of 62 fingers in 61 patients presented with ruptured flexor tendon repairs within 48 hours from rupture. Immediate re-repair and rehabilitation was carried out in 44 fingers (71%) in 43 (70%) patients. Thirty-six patients completed the 8-week therapy programme after re-repair in 37 fingers. Nine (24%) had excellent, 10 (27%) good, 5 (14%) fair and 13 (35%) had poor results when assessed by the original Strickland method. Five fingers in five patients ruptured the re-repair. Poor results and second ruptures were particularly common after re-repair of ruptured tendon repairs in the little finger. In the light of these findings, a policy for dealing with ruptured primary flexor tendon repairs in the fingers is suggested.
Dowd
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MB
Hand Surgery Department, St. Andrew's Centre for Plastic Surgery, Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, Essex, UK.
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D012086:Reoperation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012421:Rupture; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome