Flexor tendon repair in zone III

Diagnosis and treatment of flexor tendon injuries of the hand: what the radiologist needs to know

This article reviews the diagnosis and treatment of flexor tendon injuries of the hand highlighting flexor tendon anatomy, important pre-operative imaging findings, surgical options, and post-operative complications. Imaging plays a key role in guiding treatment of these difficult to manage injuries. Thus, it is important for radiologists to have a sound understanding of factors important in treatment decision-making. In the pre-operative setting, accurately identifying the location of the torn proximal tendon stump in subacute and chronic injuries helps dictate whether the patient is a candidate for a primary flexor tendon repair or may require a tendon reconstruction to restore function. In the post-operative setting, the status of the repair and presence of surrounding adhesions help dictate if and when the patient will require subsequent surgery and whether that surgery will be a tenolysis, revision repair, reconstruction, or fusion.

Outcomes of Primary Flexor Tendon Repairs in Zones 2 and 3: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Purpose

The aims of this retrospective cohort study were to present outcomes of zone 2 and 3 primary flexor tendon repairs and to evaluate how clinical outcomes change over time within and between zones of injury at weeks 6, 13, and 26.

Methods

Data were retrieved from a multicenter flexor tendon cohort registry from 2014 to 2021. The inclusion criteria were: (1) adult patients after primary flexor tendon surgery in zone 2 or 3, (2) flexor digitorum profundus laceration of >50%, (3) 4-6 multistrand flexor digitorum profundus core suture, and (4) early active motion protocol. The primary outcome was the range of motion. Secondary outcomes were strength, patient satisfaction on an 11-point Likert scale, and self-reported physical function measured with the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire 6, 13, and 26 weeks after surgery.

Results

We evaluated 33 patients after 39 tendon repairs in zone 3 and 174 repairs in zone 2 of 163 patients. Range of motion significantly improved over time in both zones (P < .001 to .01). Between-group range of motion differences were nonsignificant except for week 26 (P < .001) for the zone 3 group. Hand strength significantly improved in both zones over time (P < .001 to .01), while between-zone strength differences were statistically nonsignificant (P = .37 to .93). Patient satisfaction was generally good to high (mean 6.8 to 8.0 points) with significant within-group changes in both zones (P < .001). There were no relevant between-zone differences in Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand scores at any time point.

Conclusions

Patients had significantly improved clinical outcomes in both zones. The zone of injury significantly affected the total active motion scores at the final assessment after 26 weeks for the zone 3 injuries. For the secondary outcomes hand strength, patient satisfaction, and Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand scores, we discovered no significant between-group differences.

Type of study/level of evidence

Therapeutic IV.

Hand Flexor Tendon Repair: From Biology to Surgery and Rehabilitation

Tendon biology and anatomy are crucial to manage hand flexor tendon injuries, not only for surgical treatment but also for rehabilitation; surgeon and physical therapist have to choose zone by zone the best way to manage and restore the normal function of hand flexor tendons.

Pediatric Flexor Tendon Injuries

The diagnosis and management of pediatric flexor tendon injuries present unique challenges to the hand surgeon. Examination of young children is not always straightforward, and tendon lacerations are frequently diagnosed late--sometimes weeks or months after the inciting injury. Four- and six-strand repair techniques are supported by recent literature, though the surgeon must remain diligent to ensure gliding of a bulky repair in a narrow tendon sheath. Beyond the operating room, postoperative management must be tailored to accommodate nuances specific to patient age and behavioral development. A fluid, patient-specific approach to every stage of management is critical for the successful treatment of pediatric flexor tendon injuries.

General Principles of Flexor Tendon Repair

Flexor tendon repair techniques and rehabilitation have advanced tremendously in the past 50 years. However, the attributes of the ideal tendon repair articulated by Dr Strickland in 1995 hold true today. The ideal repair requires sutures easily placed in the tendon, secure suture knots, a smooth juncture of the tendon ends, minimal gapping, least interference with tendon vascularity, and sufficient strength throughout healing. When accomplished, the modern flexor tendon repair is a stout repair, sufficient for early mobilization and intrinsic tendon healing.

Wide awake surgery for flexor tendon primary repair: A literature review

Flexor tendon injuries are extremely challenging conditions to manage for hand surgeons. Over the last few years enormous progress has been made for the treatment of these lesions with new surgical approaches being performed. One of these is the wideawake local anesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) technique, also known as Wide Awake Technique that allows tendon repair under local anesthesia, enabling the tendon to move actively during surgery. Dynamic movement of the tendon during surgery is crucial for the orthopedic surgeon in order to understand if the tendon has been correctly repaired before leaving the operatory table. An electronic literature research was carried out on Pubmed, Google Scholars and Cochrane Library using ((Flexor tendon injury) OR (flexor tendon) OR (injury muscle tendon) OR (flexor pollicis longus tendon) AND ((wide awake repair) OR (wide awake) OR (wide awake hand surgery))as search terms. Authors believe that WALANT is an enormous add-on in the management of patients with flexor tendon injuries mainly because it allows direct visualization of the repair during flexion and extension movement of the fingers and also because it avoids general anesthesia or brachial plexus being more cost effective. The aim of these review was therefore to sum up the evidences available so far on the wade awake technique as an emerging treatment for patients with flexor tendon injuries.

Repair of flexor tendon injuries by four strands cruciate technique versus two strands kessler technique

BACKGROUND

Flexor tendon injuries are commonly encountered and the surgical repair still represents a challenging problem. Many repair techniques are present but there is still no ideal one that achieves the best functional outcome. This study was undertaken to compare four-strand locked cruciate repair technique and modified Kessler technique in forty eight patients by assessing the functional outcome.

METHODS

Forty eight patients (114 digits) with flexor tendon injury were assigned into two groups based on suture repair technique; Group A: 24 cases by Modified Kessler repair (50%). Group B: 24cases by 4-strand cruciate repair (50%). Adults in Both groups were rehabilitated by combined Duran protocol and early active mobilization while no specific rehabilitation program was used for pediatric age group. Follow up was from 6 to 36 months (mean 21.5). Functional outcome was assessed by White criteria to all patients after 6 months.

RESULTS

Functional outcome was better in 4 strand cruciate repair with excellent result in 66.6%, good in 29.1% and fair in 4.1%, as compared to modified Kessler technique in which excellent results were found in 45.8%, good in 37.5%, fair in 12.5% and poor in 4.1% of cases. A better functional result was achieved in 4 strand cruciate repair especially in zone II, with excellent results in 33.3%, good in 50% and fair in 16.6% of cases, as compared to modified Kessler repair with no excellent results, 33.3% good, 50% fair and 16.6% poor results. In zone III, 4 strand cruciate technique showed a better functional outcome with 77.7% excellent and 22.2% good results, as compared to 55.5% excellent and 44.4% good results found in Modified Kessler repair. Zone V showed almost comparable results between the two types of repairs.

CONCLUSION

The 4-strand cruciate repair technique had better functional outcome compared to modified Kessler repair technique, especially in zone II and III.

The evidence-base for the management of flexor tendon injuries of the hand: Review

•

There is no consensus on the optimal flexor tendon repair technique at each anatomical flexor zone.

•

There is paucity of high quality evidence.

•

Heterogenous study designs limit inter-study comparisons.

•

Patient reported outcome measures are crucial but there is a perennial need for robust disease-specific tools to be utilised.

Postsurgical Rehabilitation of Flexor Tendon Injuries

Rehabilitation after surgical repair of flexor injuries is a controversial topic. Motion at the repair site decreases risk for adhesions but increases risk for rupture. We review the current concepts behind various rehabilitation protocols based on zone of injury and the evidence behind each.

Flexor Tendon Injuries

Flexor tendon injuries of the hand are uncommon, and they are among the most challenging orthopaedic injuries to manage. Proper management is essential to ensure optimal outcomes. Consistent, successful management of flexor tendon injuries relies on understanding the anatomy, characteristics and repair of tendons in the different zones, potential complications, rehabilitation protocols, recent advances in treatment, and future directions, including tissue engineering and biologic modification of the repair site.

Zone III flexor tendon injuries - A proposed modification to rehabilitation

In this manuscript, these authors have utilized years of clinical experience to suggest rehabilitation modifications for Zone III flexor tendon injuries. - VictoriaPriganc, PhD, OTR, CHT, CLT, Practice Forum Editor.

Spontaneous Zone III rupture of the flexor tendons of the ulnar three digits in elderly Korean farmers

Spontaneous flexor tendon rupture is a rare condition and the aetiology is not clear. We report 12 elderly Korean farmers with spontaneous flexor tendon ruptures. We found the rupture in the dominant hand in ten patients. A rupture in the little finger was found in all 12 patients (seven with both flexor tendons ruptured and five with only the profundus ruptured), in the ring finger in four patients (the profundus ruptured in all and both flexor tendons in two patients), and in the middle finger a partial rupture of the profundus in one patient. The tendons were ruptured close to the hook of the hamate. Repetitive friction between the flexor tendons and the hamate hook may cause the ruptures. The hamate hook was excised and the ruptured profundus tendons were reconstructed with tendon transfers with quite favourable functional recovery at follow-up of 1 to 2 years. The ruptured superficialis tendons were not reconstructed. Level of Evidence IV.

[Flexor tendons repair in zones 3, 4 and 5]

Surgical repair of zones 1 and 2 flexor tendon injuries is a technically demanding procedure. Surgical repair of zones 3 to 5 lacerated flexor tendons is less demanding. The associated vascular and neural damage will impact the functional outcome. The surgical techniques used to repair flexor tendons in zones 3, 4 and 5 are described, along with the strategy used to treat any associated lesions.

A systematic review of 2-strand versus multistrand core suture techniques and functional outcome after digital flexor tendon repair

PURPOSE

To determine published evidence to evaluate the hypothesis that multistrand techniques result in a poorer outcome than 2-strand techniques for digital flexor tendon repairs.

METHODS

A systematic review was undertaken to compare outcomes and rupture rates between 2-strand and multistrand core sutures in digital flexor zones 2 to 5. Outcome was measured by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand criteria, original or modified Strickland criteria, or Buck-Gramcko criteria.

RESULTS

A total of 1,878 patients (2,585 digits; 3,749 tendons) were included from the selected studies. Thirty-three studies reported 2-strand repairs and 15 reported multistrand repairs. Of the total tendon injuries, 59% were flexor digitorum profundus, 38% were flexor digitorum superficialis, and 2% were flexor pollicis longus. The pooled rupture rate was 3.9 per 100 digits. No significant difference was detected between 2-strand and multistrand repairs for outcomes by all measures or rupture rate.

CONCLUSIONS

Because of the wide variation in reporting of outcomes and study design on which this analysis was based, we cannot definitively confirm our hypothesis. We present the standards for outcomes as well as rupture rate for digital flexor tendon repair.

TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic III.