Clinical Outcomes of Two-stage Flexor Tendon Reconstruction in the Hand: Experience with Early Postoperative Combined Protocol of Controlled Motion / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: To analyze the final results of a two-stage flexor tendon reconstruction in the hand with the early postoperative combined protocol of controlled motion, and to identify the prognostic factors associated with the final results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nine cases of two-stage flexor tendon reconstructions in 9 patients, who had been unable to flex their digits due to old flexor tendon injury, were examined. Using the modified Boyes' injury severity classification, the digits were classified as grades 1, 2 and 3 in 1, 5 and 3 patients, respectively. The average follow-up period was 1 year and 8 months and the final results are expressed using the Buck-Gramcko assessment system. RESULTS: Eight out of nine hands were graded as excellent and one patient whose injury severity had been graded 3 was graded as good. Excellent results were found in patients with a more than 10-year interval between the injury and the stage I procedure. Of the 3 patients who had undergone contracture release two were excellent and one was good. All 5 patients with a pulley reconstruction had excellent results. Complications involved one infection at the distal incision site, one tendon rupture and four flexion contractures. CONCLUSION: A two-stage flexor tendon reconstruction with an early postoperative combined protocol of controlled motion is a useful procedure for restoring the flexor performance in old badly scarred digits. The excellent or good results might be due to following: the early protected rehabilitation incorporating two protocols, a pulley reconstruction and protection, flexion contracture release, an initial injury with less than moderate grade and the young age of the patients.

Tendon Graft in Old Flexor Tendon Injury / 대한정형외과학회잡지

The flexor tendon injuries of the finger are very difficult to treat satisfactorily. Early treatment is desirable, but not always posaible. In addition, joint stiffness and limitation in gliding of the tendon caused by adhesion, make the problem more complex. From 1978 until 1988, 13 patients (14 eases) underwent operations for free tendon graft, and 10 patients (13 eases) for staged tendon graft at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, National Medieal Center. They have been followed up for clinical study, and the result was summarized as follows:1. Old flexor tendon injuries were common in the teen and twenties, especially in male. 2. They occurred in the index (10 Cases, 37.0%) and middle (8 cases, 29.6%) fingers most commony, especially zone II (62.9%). 3. The result was evalusted according to the method designed by Strickland and Glovac. In 19 out of 27 cases, satisfactory result (excellent and good) was yielded. 4. In cause, deep laceration by sharp object was better in the result than crushing injury. 5. The interval between the injury and the operation ranged from 1 month through 11 years, averaging 16 months, and is supposed to have little relation to the result. 6. The preoperative state is supposed to have much relation to postoperative result, judging from 100% of satisfactory result in Grade I compared with 40% in Grade V according to Boyes preoperative classification. 7. Little difference is seen in the result between free tendon graft and staged tendon graft. And 5 cases complicated by adhesion, rupture of grafted tendon and wound infection yielded poor result.

Clinical Study of Reconstruction on Old Flexor Tendon Injuries / 대한정형외과학회잡지

T The Flexor tendon injury caused by trauma of hand and forearm is commonly reported and earlier treatment for trauma is recommendable. But in many cases, earlier treatment is often not possible due to degree of injured tissues and infection. Specially in cases of severe trauma and damage of tendon sheath and pulley, the solution of limitation of motion is still remained as a difficult problem up to present due to scar tissue adhesion to surrounding tissues even after the primary treatment. The Department of orthopaedic surgery of National Medical Center during four years from 1981 to 1985 have treated 22 patients (27 fingers) of old flexor tendon injuries with tendon reconstruction and followed up more than for 6 months for clinieal study arrd the results ase as follows: 1. The old flexor tendon injuries are composed of 18 patients of the first decade and the second decade, especially in male. 2. The main causes of injury were deep lacerations by sharp objects (12 patients, 55.6%) and crushing injuries (9 patients, 40.8%). 3. Tendon injuries were mostly occurred in the index and ring finger. The incidence rate was equal between the 2 fingers, 25.7% representatively. Most of the injuries (21 cases, 77.8%) occurred in the zone II (Kleinert classification). 4. According to Boyes' classification, Grade 2 was 16 patients (19 cases): Grade 4, 3 patients (4 cases): Grade 3, 2 patients (3 cases): and Grade 5, 1 patient. 5. The operation method in zone II was free tendon graft in 10 cases and staged tendon graft in 7 cases. 6. The timing of operation depends on whether the open wounds were completely healed or not as well as subsidence of swelling. In case of swelling. In case of stiff fingers normal range of motions should be restored by vigorous exercise before operation. 7. According to the assessment based on strickland and Glovac, 20 cases out of 22 cases (13 cases of free tendon graft and 9 cases of staged tendon graft were satisfactory result.