Complex Extensor Tendon Injuries: Early Active Motion Following Single-Stage Reconstruction

• Published in: The Journal of hand surgery, European volume Vol. 33; no. 6; pp. 753 - 759
• Main Authors: KOUL, A. R., PATIL, R. K., PHILIP, V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01-12-2008; Sage Publications
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Female; Hand Injuries - physiopathology; Hand Injuries - surgery; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Microsurgery; Range of Motion, Articular - physiology; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures; Retrospective Studies; Surgical Flaps; Tendon Injuries - physiopathology; Tendon Injuries - surgery; Tendons - physiopathology; Time Factors; Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents; Treatment Outcome; early active mobilisation; extensor tendon injury; complex; Motion; Treatment; Surgery; Orthopedics; Rheumatology; Early stage; Anatomical reconstruction; Tendon
• ISSN: 1753-1934; 2043-6289
• DOI: 10.1177/1753193408092786

This study presents a retrospective evaluation of patients managed with
single-stage repair following complex extensor tendon injuries. Over a 2-year
period, 21 extensor tendons were reconstructed in 18 patients with complex hand
injuries in zones V–VII. All eight patients needed soft tissue
cover. Active mobilisation was started in the first week.
Total active motion (TAM) at 4 weeks was a mean of 159° (SD 21.57)
and at 6 weeks it was 202.6° (SD 13.26). Average TAM at 8 weeks was
223.8° (SD 16.46) and 249.5° (SD 14.38) at 12 weeks.
Grip strength at 12 weeks and 6 months was around 75% and
90% of the contralateral normal hand in most of the patients.
Single-stage reconstruction of complex extensor tendon injuries seems to reduce
morbidity in terms of hospitalisation, and reduced cost of treatment. It also
helps to achieve better functional outcome in the early postoperative
period.