[Rehabilitation following primary repair of flexor tendons in adults]. / Rééducation après réparation primaire des tendons fléchisseurs des doigts chez l'adulte.

Rehabilitation after primary repair of flexor tendons, particularly in the early phase, has changed due to more solid suture repairs. The objectives of this article are to outline the general principles surrounding this rehabilitation, set out the indications for various early mobilization techniques and describe in detail the physiotherapy protocol used by the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department of the Regional Institute of Rehabilitation in collaboration with the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department of the Émile-Gallé Surgical Center in Nancy, France. This protocol is mainly used for adult patients and carried out in four stages over a 12-week period. If there are no contraindications, the patient learns protected early active self-rehabilitation during the first four postoperative weeks. The protocol includes standardized multidisciplinary follow-up until the social and occupational rehabilitation phase to ensure the best chance of functional recovery.

[Rehabilitation after secondary surgery of the flexor tendons of fingers and thumb]. / Rééducation après chirurgie secondaire des tendons fléchisseurs des doigts.

The repair of the finger flexor tendons can be complicated by the appearance of ruptures and peritendinous adhesions. Ruptures are often treated with tendon grafts. Peritendinous adhesions can require tenolysis. Following these two surgical procedures, there is a risk of new adhesions and rupture. Rehabilitation after this secondary surgery consists of a tailored, closely supervised protocol. Protocols used by the team at the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department of the Regional Rehabilitation Institute and the team at the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department of the Emile-Gallé Surgical Center of Nancy (France) are described. A close collaboration between these teams of surgeons and physical therapists is essential. After tendon grafting, protected early motion helps to move the transplant immediately while still protecting it. After tenolysis, immediate (several times a day) and extended rehabilitation ensures that the mobility obtained intraoperatively is maintained. It is performed in a specialized rehabilitation center during the first three postoperative weeks. The goal is to prevent new adhesions from forming while taking into account tendon's fragility.

[MRI and leg stump neuroma]. / IRM et névromes des moignons damputation des membres inférieurs.

OBJECTIVE: To describe RMI aspects of leg stump neuroma and to evaluate RMI scan interest for neuroma diagnosis and management. POPULATION AND METHOD: During a 2 years period, 224 amputated patients consulting for pain or prostetics problems were studied. In 10 cases, a characteristic pain leads to neurona diagnosis. This is described as a sensation of ascending or descending electric shock induced by the stimulation of an identified point with a reproducible topography. In all these cases, RMI scans were performed. In thirty two other cases, a RMI scan was performed to confirm a pathology (bursitis, bone abnormality) or in order to establish an etiologic diagnosis. Twelve neuromas were diagnosed. RESULTS: RMI scan showed a neuroma in the ten cases with a clinical suspicion and two asymptomatic neuromas were diagnosed out of the 32 patients without clinical suspicion. Medium delay between amputation and neuroma diagnosis is 11,6 year. In six cases, staking was modified and in six other cases, surgery was necessary. In aIl cases, clinical manifestations disappeared. Vanous RMI aspects ofneuromas are described and illustrated. Neuroma is observed on the extremity of a nerve that have a wavy aspect on its top. The neuroma is an oblong structure, with clear limits. There is an hyposignal with Ti sequence and variable signal with T2 and after gadolinium injection. DISCUSSION: RMI scan is a good way to diagnose amputee neuroma. It makes it possible to demonstrate the pathological character of the neuroma. It has to be performed when a neuroma is suspected. It enables to confirm the diagnosis and establish the exact topography and anatomic connection. Mechanical strains role as a factor of discovering the neuroma is discussed because of the concomitant evolution of associated lesions (bursitis, bone edema). Surgical repair takes place after correcting abnormal mechanical strains.