Complex Extensor Tendon Injuries: Early Active Motion Following                     Single-Stage Reconstruction

This study presents a retrospective evaluation of patients managed with single-stage repair following complex extensor tendon injuries. Over a 2-year period, 21 extensor tendons were reconstructed in 18 patients with complex hand injuries in zones V–VII. All eight patients needed soft tissue cover. Active mobilisation was started in the first week. Total active motion (TAM) at 4 weeks was a mean of 159° (SD 21.57) and at 6 weeks it was 202.6° (SD 13.26). Average TAM at 8 weeks was 223.8° (SD 16.46) and 249.5° (SD 14.38) at 12 weeks. Grip strength at 12 weeks and 6 months was around 75% and 90% of the contralateral normal hand in most of the patients. Single-stage reconstruction of complex extensor tendon injuries seems to reduce morbidity in terms of hospitalisation, and reduced cost of treatment. It also helps to achieve better functional outcome in the early postoperative period.

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Extensor Tendon Rehabilitation a Prospective Trial Comparing Three Rehabilitation Regimes

Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume) ◽

10.1016/j.jhsb.2004.10.016 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 30 (2) ◽

pp. 175-179 ◽

Cited By ~ 37

Author(s):

N. W. BULSTRODE ◽

N. BURR ◽

A. L. PRATT ◽

A. O. GROBBELAAR

Keyword(s):

Prospective Trial ◽

Extensor Tendon ◽

Metacarpophalangeal Joint ◽

Tendon Injuries ◽

Interphalangeal Joint ◽

Hand Therapy ◽

Active Motion ◽

Joint Mobilization ◽

Total Active Motion ◽

Extensor Tendon Injuries

Forty-two patients with 46 complete extensor tendon injuries were prospectively allocated to one of three rehabilitation regimes: static splintage; interphalangeal joint mobilization with metacarpophalangeal joint immobilization or; the “Norwich” regime. All 42 patients were operated on by one surgeon and assessed by one hand therapist. At 4 weeks the total active motion in the static splintage group was significantly reduced but by 12 weeks there was no difference between the regimes. There was no difference in total active motion between the repaired and uninjured hand at 12 weeks, with all patients achieving good or excellent results. However, grip strength at 12 weeks was significantly reduced compared to the uninjured hand after static splintage. There was no difference in hand therapy input between the regimes.

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Dynamic Splinting After Extensor Tendon Repair in Zones V to VII

Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume) ◽

10.1016/s0266-7681(03)00014-7 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 28 (3) ◽

pp. 224-227 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

S. BRÜNER ◽

M. WITTEMANN ◽

A. JESTER ◽

K. BLUMENTHAL ◽

G. GERMANN

Keyword(s):

Retrospective Study ◽

Surgical Complication ◽

Tendon Repair ◽

Extensor Tendon ◽

Tendon Injuries ◽

Active Motion ◽

Evaluation Systems ◽

Dynamic Splinting ◽

Extensor Tendon Injuries

This retrospective study evaluates a dynamic active motion protocol for extensor tendon repairs in zones V to VII. Fifty-eight patients with 87 extensor tendon injuries were examined. Using Geldmacher’s and Kleinert and Verdan’s evaluation systems, the results were graded as “excellent” and “good” in more than 94%, and as “satisfactory” in the remainder. The need for secondary tenolysis was low (6%), and no other surgical complication occurred.

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