title: Outcomes of the six-strand M-Tang repair for zone 2 primary flexor tendon repair in 54 fingers.
abstract: We repaired complete divisions of flexor tendons in zone 2 in 54 fingers using a six-strand core M-Tang repair method. Partial active digital motion started with early passive digital motion carried out first in the first 3-4 weeks after surgery and full range of active motion in later weeks. The patients were followed for 4-27 months. According to Strickland criteria or Tang criteria, 24 (83%) had excellent or good, four fair and one poor results in 28 fingers with follow-up of more than one year. In the other 25 fingers which were followed for less than 12 months, 19 (76%) had excellent and good, four fair and two poor results. There were no repair ruptures. We analysed outcomes against ages, gender, pulley integrity, accompanied injuries and follow-up times. The patients younger than 37 years old, male patients and with their A2 pulley(s) vented there were significantly better outcomes. The patients with longer than one year follow-up had significantly smaller extension deficits than those with less than one year follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  IV.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Hand Surgery, People's Hospital of Jiangyin, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Hand Surgery, People's Hospital of Jiangyin, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: X R
authors.initials: XR
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Hand Surgery, People's Hospital of Jiangyin, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qing
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Hand Surgery, People's Hospital of Jiangyin, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: X F
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: 2 Jiangsu Medical Research Centre, Nantong, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Primary tendon repair; early active mobilization; outcomes; pulley release; six-strand repair technique