Abstract:

Objective: The aim of this study was to report the outcomes of patients applied with zone 1 and 2 flexor tendon repairs using the with strong core sutures, venting of critical pulleys, intraoperative active movement testing with a wide-awake surgical setting, and early active mobilization approaches. Patients and Methods: Twenty pulleys impairing excursions during intraoperative active movement were totally vented and up to half of two A2 pulleys were judiciously vented. Therapy started on the third postoperative day. Assessments were performed at the end of the sixth, eighth, and 12th weeks. The Strickland score was calculated for each injured finger and the Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) scale was completed. The Strickland and DASH scores in the consecutive assessments were compared. Results: Evaluations of 21 fingers of 17 (11 males, six females) patients with a mean age of 30.0±7.9 years were made. There were 17 zone 2 and four zone 1 repairs. One finger (1/21, 4.7%) was operated on again for stiffness (tenolysis) and there was no rupture. The Strickland and DASH scores improved with a statistically significantly at each assessment. Conclusion: The low tenolysis rates, the absence of ruptures, and improved outcome scores signaled encouragement to follow current flexor tendon repairs. Keywords: early active mobilization; flexor tendon; venting of annular pulleys; walant

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