title: Suture configurations and biomechanical properties of flexor tendon repairs by 16 hand surgeons in Finland.
abstract: The aim of this study was to find out how common it is to modify standard core suture configurations in flexor tendon repair and whether the use of standard core suture configurations gives a stronger repair. A total of 16 hand surgeons or residents participated in a workshop, in which they were asked to draw the suture configurations they used and to repair a porcine tendon. The properties of the repaired tendons were measured. Seven participants used a standard core suture configuration, and nine used a modified core suture. The biomechanical properties of the repairs were not affected by modifications to the core suture. However, they were affected by the number and lengths of peripheral suture bites, type of peripheral suture and the location of the core suture knot.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand- and Microsurgery, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland Medical School, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland olli.v.leppanen@uta.fi.
authors.forename: O V
authors.initials: OV
authors.lastname: Leppänen
authors.affiliation: Medical School, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Linnanmäki
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand- and Microsurgery, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Havulinna
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand- and Microsurgery, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Göransson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013552:Swine; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: Hand surgery; biomechanical testing; finger; flexor digitorum profundus; modification; work-shop