ABSTRACT
Background: The first cause of bad results after flexor tendon repair is scar adhesions. An early mobilization protocol could help to reduce those adhesions under the increased risk of tendon rupture. This study aims to evaluate the functional results after flexor repair in zone 2. Method: A number of 136 hand flexor tendons were repaired in zone 2, in a total number of 82 patients, all of them with only one finger affected, with a total rupture of both flexor tendons in the case of long fingers or the flexor pollicis longus in the case of thumb, managed under an early active flexion -extension protocol. The results were based on both the International Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand (IFSSH) and the Strickland's systems of evaluation. The results of long fingers and thumbs were analysed separately. Results: The results of the long fingers group were excellent (72.2%), good (26.0%) and fair (1.9%), according to the Strickland's standards and were good (81.5%), fair (16.6%) and poor (1.9%), according to the IFSSH standards. The results of the thumbs group were excellent (96.4%) and fair (3.6%), according to the Strickland's standards and were excellent (82.1%), good (14.3%) and poor (3.6%), according to the IFSSH standards. A rupture rate was 6.09%, nevertheless functional results of reoperated patients was satisfactory. Conclusions: This study corroborates evidence that postoperative programs that incorporate early active motion (flexion/ extension) can produce good results after flexor tendon repair in zone 2 in a single digit injury.
Keywords: Tendon injuries, surgery, rehabilitation. Finger injuries, surgery, rehabilitation