Two staged reconstruction of flexor tendons of the fingers using ipsilateral pedicled flexor digitorum superficialis tendon graft

ABSTRACT

Twenty-three patients with flexor tendon injuries were operated upon for flexor tendon reconstruction using a staged technique of Hunter rode replacement, followed by pedicled flexor digitorum superficialis graft. The indication for this technique was excessive scarring of the tendon bed. There were 16 men and 7 women ranging in age from 16 to 48 years. Four patients had 4 fingers involved, 2 patients had 3 and 6 patients had 2 fingers involved, while the rest 11 patients had one finger involved. The number of involved fingers were 45 fingers. The postoperative follow up period ranged from 1 to 3 years. The measurements of active range of motion of the involved finger were taken in the closed fist position. Twenty seven fingers in this series were rated as excellent, 15 as good, 3 as fair and no finger as poor. Two stage flexor tendon reconstruction using this technique proved to be a safe and effective technique with minimal complications