Abstract
Over a 5-year-period 15 patients with zone II partial flexor tendon lacerations that
were larger than half the width of the tendon were treated conservatively without
tendon suturing. Surgical exploration was done with a digital block and the flexor
tendons were observed as the patient fully extended and flexed the finger. If present,
the cause of triggering was determined and eliminated by trimming any beveled tendon
edge, resection of the involved pulleys, and repair of the flexor sheath. Early protected
mobilization was started the first day after injury using a dorsal splint. At 4 weeks
after injury the splint was removed and exercises against resistance were started.
None of the patients had triggering or rupture of the flexor tendons. Using the Strickland-Glogovac
evaluation method, results were excellent in 93% of cases and good in the remaining
7%. It was concluded that conservative management of zone II partial flexor tendon
lacerations larger than half the width of the tendon is safe as long as certain guidelines
regarding the prevention of triggering and protected mobilization are applied. (J
Hand Surg 2000;25A:1118-1121. Copyright © 2000 by the American Society for Surgery
of the Hand.)
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
June 20,
2000
Received:
October 21,
1999
Footnotes
*No benefits in any form have been received or will be received from a commercial party related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article.
**Reprint requests: Mohammed M. Al-Qattan. FRCSC. PO Box 18097, Riyadh 11415, Saudi Arabia.
Identification
Copyright
© 2000 American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.