Flexor tendon repair in the hand: the use of early postoperative therapeutic exercises alone versus its combination with laser

ABSTRACT

The aim of the study was to compare between early uses of therapeutic exercises alone versus the effect of its combination with the use of laser after hand flexor tendon repair in zone II. A prospective study was done on a thirty patients operated at Elsahel Teaching Hospital for a flexor tendon repair in zone II using a modified Kessler' technique. Patients have an average age of 25.26+ 6.37 years and they were randomly divided into two equal groups, the first group [A] received only therapeutic exercises, and the same program of exercises in addition to the use of laser therapy was applied in group [B] after operation. In both groups, results after 3 months showed a statistically significance increase as regards duration of post operative rehabilitation program in total active motion [TAM] of P.IP and DIP, [Group A at 3 weeks showed 53 +/- 45.85 and at 3 months 110.33 +/- 32.15, Group B showed at 3 weeks 102 +/- 34.37 and at 3 months 149.66 +/- 26.95]. the same significant results was also seen in case of maximal hand. grip strength [MI-IG], [Group A showed at 3 weeks a result of 17.56 +/- 3.96 and at 3 months 54.01 +/- 15.15 and Group B showed a mean results at 3 weeks of 23.02 +/- 7.06 and at 3 months 82.6 +/- 16, 48. In addition group [B] showed highly significant improvement in TAM and MHG as compared to group [A]. It was concluded that the addition of laser with early therapeutic exercises plays an important roles to improve results at postoperative rehabilitation after hand flexor tendon repair