title: Clinical outcomes of early active mobilization following flexor tendon repair using the six-strand technique: short- and long-term evaluations.
abstract: We evaluated the factors influencing outcomes of flexor tendon repair in 112 fingers using a six-strand suture with the Yoshizu #1 technique and early postoperative active mobilization in 101 consecutive patients. A total of 32 fingers had injuries in Zone I, 78 in Zone II, and two in Zone III. The mean follow-up period was 6 months; 16 patients (19 fingers) participated in long-term follow-up of 2 to 16 years. The total active motion was 230° SD 29°; it correlated negatively with age. The total active motion was 231° SD 28° after repair of the lacerated flexor digitorum superficialis tendon, and was 205° SD 37° after excision of the flexor digitorum superficialis tendon ends (p = 0.0093). A total of 19 fingers showed no significant increases in total active motion more than 2 years after surgery. The rupture rate was 5.4% in our patients and related to surgeons' level of expertise. Five out of six ruptured tendons were repaired by inexperienced surgeons. Level of Evidence IV.
authors.affiliation: Niigata Hand Surgery Foundation, Niigata, Japan kmoriya@k8.dion.ne.jp.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moriya
authors.affiliation: Niigata Hand Surgery Foundation, Niigata, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshizu
authors.affiliation: Niigata Hand Surgery Foundation, Niigata, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maki
authors.affiliation: Niigata Hand Surgery Foundation, Niigata, Japan.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tsubokawa
authors.affiliation: Niigata Hand Surgery Foundation, Niigata, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Narisawa
authors.affiliation: Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Endo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D026201:Musculoskeletal Manipulations; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Early active mobilization; flexor tendon injury; long-term outcomes; repair; six-strand technique