Controlled motion rehabilitation after flexor tendon repair and grafting. A multi-centre study.

We present a system for treatment by controlled motion after repair of flexor tendons in the hand. This Washington regimen incorporates both controlled active extension against passive flexion by rubber band and the use of controlled passive extension and flexion. We utilise the Brooke Army Hospital modification of the rubber band passive flexion splint; this provides for maximal excursion of the tendon with full passive flexion of the finger. The 66 patients (78 fingers) who form the basis of this study all sustained complete laceration of the flexor profundus and superficialis tendons in "no man's land". Results were evaluated by the Strickland formula of total active motion (TAM) of the proximal and distal interphalangeal joints. Sixty-two fingers (80%) were rated "excellent", 14 fingers (18%) were "good", two fingers (2%) were "fair", none was rated "poor". Our regimen of controlled motion rehabilitation has also been applied with equal success to cases of flexor tendon grafting.

A combined regimen of controlled motion following flexor tendon repair in "no man's land".

A program of controlled motion following repair of flexor tendons in the hand is presented. This regimen incorporates the features of active extension against rubber band passive flexion, as well as those of controlled passive extension and passive flexion. In this prospective study, 44 digits with complete lacerations of the flexor digitorum profundus and flexor digitorum superficialis in zone 2 were treated. Using the Strickland formula of total active motion of the interphalangeal joints, 36 fingers (82 percent) were rated "excellent"; 7 fingers (16 percent) were rated "good"; 1 finger (2 percent) was rated "fair"; none was rated "poor". There was no statistical difference between the results of delayed primary repair and immediate primary repair.