title: Comparison of zones 1 to 4 flexor tendon repairs using absorbable and unabsorbable four-strand core sutures.
abstract: Absorbable sutures behave favourably in vitro and in an animal model. We report the outcome of flexor tendon injuries in a series of 272 consecutive patients treated over 45 months with a mean follow-up of 4 (range 3-12) months. Five hundred and seventy-six tendons were repaired in 416 digits. The patients were not randomised and all repairs were performed using a Strickland four-strand core technique. In 191 (73%) patients an absorbable core suture was used (Group 1) and in 81 (27%) a non-absorbable material was used (Group 2). There were six ruptures (2%) in Group 1 and two (2%) in Group 2. Using the original Strickland criteria, there were 72% excellent/good and 28% fair/poor results in the absorbable core suture group, and 73% and 27%, respectively, in the non-absorbable core suture group. This study suggests that appropriate absorbable core sutures can be used safely for flexor tendon repair.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London. rcaulfield@talk21.com
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Caulfield
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maleki-Tabrizi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Coldham
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mee
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nanchahal
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011108:Polymers; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013537:Sutures; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; C046409:polyglyconate