title: An experimental study comparing active mobilization to passive flexion-active extension-active flexion after flexor tendon repair in zone 2.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Both passive flexion-active extension and active rehabilitation have shown advantages and disadvantages in tendon healing. The purpose of this study was to measure the effect of a combination of these 2 rehabilitation protocols.
  
  
  METHODS
  A tendon injury model was used in white Leghorn chickens. Thirty-two animals were randomly assigned into 4 groups. We compared an unrestricted active flexion rehabilitation (UA) group with 3 groups starting passive flexion, active extension, and active flexion (PAA) at 5, 9.5 and 14 days after repair. The tensile properties and range of motion of the 3 interphalangeal joints were evaluated for 3 postoperative weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In terms of tensile properties of the operated foot, PAA-14 was higher than any other group, and PAA-5 was the lowest. There was no significant difference between the PAA-9.5 and UA. For the range of motion, there were significant differences between all 4 groups: UA increased the most, PAA-14 increased the least, and PAA-5 increased more than PAA-9.5. For the rupture rate, UA and PAA-5 were higher than were PAA-9.5 and PAA-14.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that the PAA-9.5 and UA may give the best balance (tensile properties, range of motion, rupture rates) of these rehabilitation protocols. PPA-9.5 and UA had similar moderate tensile properties. When considering an increased range of motion, the UA method may be the most appropriate despite its higher rupture rate. When considering a lower rupture rate, PAA-9.5 may be the most suitable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapeutic III.
authors.affiliation: Anatomical Institute of Minimally Invasive Surgery, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Hongliang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Zhidian
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Zihai
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Xuefeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002645:Chickens; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011897:Random Allocation; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery*; D013718:Tensile Strength