In vivo flexor tendon forces generated during different rehabilitation exercises

2015 ◽  
Vol 40 (7) ◽  
pp. 705-710 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Edsfeldt ◽  
D. Rempel ◽  
K. Kursa ◽  
E. Diao ◽  
L. Lattanza

We measured in vivo forces in the flexor digitorum profundus and the flexor digitorum superficialis tendons during commonly used rehabilitation manoeuvres after flexor tendon repair by placing a buckle force transducer on the tendons of the index finger in the carpal canal during open carpal tunnel release of 12 patients. We compared peak forces for each manoeuvre with the reported strength of a flexor tendon repair. Median flexor digitorum profundus force (24 N) during isolated flexor digitorum profundus flexion and median flexor digitorum superficialis force (13 N) during isolated flexor digitorum superficialis flexion were significantly higher than during the other manoeuvres. Significantly higher median forces were observed in the flexor digitorum superficialis with the wrist at 30° flexion (6 N) compared with the neutral wrist position (5 N). Median flexor digitorum profundus forces were significantly higher during active finger flexion (6 N) compared with place and hold (3 N). Place and hold and active finger flexion with the wrist in the neutral position or tenodesis generated the lowest forces; isolated flexion of these tendons generated higher forces along the flexor tendons. Level of evidence: III (controlled trial without randomization)

2018 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 354-360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Koji Moriya ◽  
Takea Yoshizu ◽  
Naoto Tsubokawa ◽  
Hiroko Narisawa ◽  
Yutaka Maki

We report seven patients requiring tenolysis after primary or delayed primary flexor tendon repair and early active mobilization out of 148 fingers of 132 consecutive patients with Zone 1 or 2 injuries from 1993 to 2017. Three fingers had Zone 2A, two Zone 2B, and two Zone 2C injuries. Two fingers underwent tenolysis at Week 4 or 6 after repair because of suspected repair rupture. The other five fingers had tenolysis 12 weeks after repair. Adhesions were moderately dense between the flexor digitorum superficialis and profundus tendons or with the pulleys. According to the Strickland and Tang criteria, the outcomes were excellent in one finger, good in four, fair in one, and poor in one. Fingers requiring tenolysis after early active motion were 5% of the 148 fingers so treated. Indications for tenolysis were to achieve a full range of active motion in the patients rated good or improvement of range of active motion of the patients rated poor or fair. Not all of our patients with poor or fair outcomes wanted to have tenolysis. Level of evidence: IV


2006 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 524-529 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. W. SU ◽  
F. J. RAIA ◽  
H. M. QUITKIN ◽  
M. PARISIEN ◽  
R. J. STRAUCH ◽  
...  

The purpose of this study was to examine the in vivo characteristics of the stainless-steel Teno Fix™ device used for flexor tendon repair. The common flexor digitorum superficialis tendon was transected in 16 dogs and repaired with the device. The animals were euthanized at 3, 6, or 12 weeks postoperatively. Difficulties with cast immobilization led nine of 16 animals to be full weight bearing too early, leading to rupture of their repairs. The seven tendons with successful primary repairs (gap <2 mm) underwent histological examination. This in vivo study demonstrates that use of the Teno Fix™ in “suture” of dog flexor tendons did not lead to scarring at the tendon surface, does not cause an inflammatory reaction within the tendon and does not interfere with tendon healing.


1998 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. GORDON ◽  
M. TOLAR ◽  
K. T. VENKATESWARA RAO ◽  
R. O. RITCHIE ◽  
S. RABINOWITZ ◽  
...  

We have developed a stainless steel internal tendon anchor that is used to strengthen a tendon repair. This study tested its use in vitro to produce a repair that can withstand the tensile strength demands of early active flexion. Fresh human cadaver flexor digitorum profundus tendons were harvested, divided, and then repaired using four different techniques: Kessler, Becker or Savage stitches, or the internal tendon anchor. The internal splint repairs demonstrated a 99–270% increase in mean maximal linear tensile strength and a 49–240% increase in mean ultimate tensile strength over the other repairs. It is hoped that this newly developed internal anchor will provide a repair that will be strong enough to allow immediate active range of motion.


2012 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. H. Low ◽  
T. S. Ahmad ◽  
E. S. Ng

We have compared a simple four-strand flexor tendon repair, the single cross-stitch locked repair using a double-stranded suture (dsSCL) against two other four-strand repairs: the Pennington modified Kessler with double-stranded suture (dsPMK); and the cruciate cross-stitch locked repair with single-stranded suture (Modified Sandow). Thirty fresh frozen cadaveric flexor digitorum profundus tendons were transected and repaired with one of the core repair techniques using identical suture material and reinforced with identical peripheral sutures. Bulking at the repair site and tendon–suture junctions was measured. The tendons were subjected to linear load-to-failure testing. Results showed no significant difference in ultimate tensile strength between the Modified Sandow (36.8 N) and dsSCL (32.6 N) whereas the dsPMK was significantly weaker (26.8 N). There were no significant differences in 2 mm gap force, stiffness or bulk between the three repairs. We concluded that the simpler dsSCL repair is comparable to the modified Sandow repair in tensile strength, stiffness and bulking.


2014 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 250-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Moriya ◽  
T. Yoshizu ◽  
Y. Maki ◽  
N. Tsubokawa ◽  
H. Narisawa ◽  
...  

We evaluated the factors influencing outcomes of flexor tendon repair in 112 fingers using a six-strand suture with the Yoshizu #1 technique and early postoperative active mobilization in 101 consecutive patients. A total of 32 fingers had injuries in Zone I, 78 in Zone II, and two in Zone III. The mean follow-up period was 6 months; 16 patients (19 fingers) participated in long-term follow-up of 2 to 16 years. The total active motion was 230° SD 29°; it correlated negatively with age. The total active motion was 231° SD 28° after repair of the lacerated flexor digitorum superficialis tendon, and was 205° SD 37° after excision of the flexor digitorum superficialis tendon ends ( p = 0.0093). A total of 19 fingers showed no significant increases in total active motion more than 2 years after surgery. The rupture rate was 5.4% in our patients and related to surgeons’ level of expertise. Five out of six ruptured tendons were repaired by inexperienced surgeons. Level of Evidence IV


2001 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 301-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. WADA ◽  
H. KUBOTA ◽  
K. MIYANISHI ◽  
H. HATANAKA ◽  
H. MIURA ◽  
...  

We evaluated a technique of four-strand double-modified locking Kessler flexor tendon repair in healing tendons. Seventy-two canine flexor digitorum profundus tendons in Zone 2 were repaired and evaluated following either active mobilization or immobilization at 0, 7, 14, 28 and 42 days after surgery. Fifty-six tendons were examined for gap and ultimate strength using a tensile testing machine and 16 were evaluated with standard hematoxylin and eosin, and Masson’s trichrome staining. All tendons healed without rupture or gap formation of more than 1 mm, thus demonstrating that this repair technique has enough tensile strength to withstand early active mobilization. The gap and ultimate strength of actively mobilized tendons did not decrease significantly during the first 7 days, and were significantly greater than those of immobilized tendons throughout the 42-day study period. Actively mobilized tendons healed without the extrinsic adhesions and large tendon calluses that were found in immobilized tendons.


2002 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 329-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. WADA ◽  
H. KUBOTA ◽  
M. TAKETA ◽  
H. MIURA ◽  
Y. IWAMOTO

Thirty-six canine flexor digitorum profundus tendons were repaired using 5-0 polyglycolide-trimethylene carbonate monofilament (Maxon) or polydioxanone monofilament (PDS2). All the tendons healed without rupture or formation of gaps of more than 2 mm. Mechanically, all tendon repairs had sufficient tensile strength to enable active mobilization. Polyglycolide-trimethylene carbonate (Maxon) repairs were initially superior in gap and ultimate strength to polydioxanone (PDS2) repairs. However, the gap and ultimate tensile strength of polyglycolide-trimethylene carbonate (Maxon) repairs had decreased significantly at day 14, whereas polydioxanone (PDS2) repairs maintained their strength throughout the 28-day observation period.


2009 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Schaller ◽  
W. Baer

Lacerated flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) tendons in zone 1 and distal zone 2 were reconstructed in 73 consecutive cases using the motion-stable Mantero technique during a 7-year period. Sixty-five (89%) of these patients were re-examined an average of 40 (26–82) months postoperatively. According to Moiemen and Elliot (2000) assessment by Strickland's original and modified criteria and in addition the Buck-Gramcko score showed excellent and good results of 54%, 72% and 91% respectively. In contrast, examination of the results measuring the range of movement of the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint alone provided a more realistic assessment in DIP joint function after Mantero technique with excellent and good results of only 38%.


2016 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 457-461 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.A.S. Hay ◽  
Y.R. Wong ◽  
A.M. Loke ◽  
S.C. Tay

We hypothesized that, in providing biomechanical strength, at least one of the two middle strands in a modified six-strand Lim-Tsai flexor tendon repair could be divided without obvious reduction in repair strength owing to uneven load bearing. A total of 40 porcine flexor digitorum profundus tendons were repaired using the six-strand Lim-Tsai technique with a 4-0 FiberLoop® suture and then divided into four equal groups. (no cut, one middle strand cut, both middle strand cut, one side strand cut). The biomechanical performance of repaired tendons was tested and found to vary according to the location of the cuts.


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