title: Silicone Foley's catheter as an effective alternative to Hunter's rod in staged flexor tendon reconstruction of the hand.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Staged flexor tendon reconstruction is most suitable treatment method for extensive zone II tendon injuries. The Hunter's rod used in this procedure is costly and not easily available, which adds to the miseries of both patients as well as treating surgeon.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to evaluate the results of staged zone II flexor tendon repair using silicone Foley's catheter as a cheaper and readily available alternative to Hunter's rod.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy digits in 35 patients were treated by the staged flexor tendon reconstruction using silicone Foley's catheter in place of Hunter's rod, and the patients were followed for an average period of 18 months. Early controlled motion exercise protocol was instituted in all cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As per the Strickland scale, total active motion obtained was excellent in 70%, good in 20%, fair in 7.1% and poor in 2.9% of patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Silicone Foley's catheter is cheaper, easily available and an effective alternative to Hunter's rod in staged flexor tendon reconstruction procedure, yielding high rates of excellent and good results with fewer complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Tawheed
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Sheikh Adil
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Bashir
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Mohammad Inam
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Zaroo
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Adil Hafeez
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Wani
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Saima
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rashid
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Summaira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jan
keywords: Hand flexor tendon injury; Hunter's rod; silicone catheter; staged tendon reconstruction; tendon graft