title: A new modified Tsuge suture for flexor tendon repairs: the biomechanical analysis and clinical application.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study is to develop a new suturing technique for flexor tendon repair by modifying the extant Tsuge repair techniques and to use biomechanical analysis to compare the new method with four established repair techniques and evaluate its clinical efficacy in the repair of 47 flexor tendons in 22 patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The biomechanical analysis relied on 50 flexor digitorum profundus tendons harvested from fresh cadavers. The tendons were randomly divided into five groups, transected, and repaired by use of a 1. double-loop suture, 2. double modified locking Kessler, 3. four-strand Savage, 4. modified six-strand Savage, and 5. the new technique. The tensile force and breaking force of all repaired tendons were measured by static loading trials. For clinical application, 22 patients with acute flexor tendon injuries were treated with the new modified Tsuge suture and follow-up for more than 12 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  While differences in the tensile force and breaking force in the modified Tsuge sutures and modified six-strand Savage sutures were not statistically significant, static loading trials showed the tensile force, in the form of a 2-mm gap formation, and the breaking force of the new modified Tsuge sutures were, statistically, both higher than the ones characteristic of double-loop sutures, double modified locking Kessler, and four-strand Savage sutures. After 12 months, restored functions were observed in all the patients during the postoperative 12 months. Total active motion (TAM) score demonstrated that more than 90% fingers were estimated as excellent or good.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The new modified Tsuge sutures described here have evident higher tensile and breaking forces compared to other four-strand core suture techniques, suggesting, in turn, that this new technique is a good alternative for flexor tendon repairs in clinical applications.
authors.affiliation: Department Hand Surgery, Wuhan Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Jiefang Ave. 1277, Wuhan, Hubei, 430022, People's Republic of China. chenjianghai2002@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Jianghai
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department Hand Surgery, Wuhan Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Jiefang Ave. 1277, Wuhan, Hubei, 430022, People's Republic of China. wkun2008@126.com.
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Hangkong Road 43, Wuhan, Hubei, 430010, People's Republic of China. foad.katirai@trinity.oxon.org.
authors.forename: Foad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Katirai
authors.affiliation: Department Hand Surgery, Wuhan Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Jiefang Ave. 1277, Wuhan, Hubei, 430022, People's Republic of China. 2990430205@qq.com.
authors.forename: Zhenbing
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013537:Sutures; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D013710:Tendons / Q000601:surgery*; D013718:Tensile Strength