Since 1988, with the aid of the microsurgical technique, circle invagination suture method was adopted to carry out primary repair of injury of the flexor tendon of hand in 30 cases, 54 fingers. The rehabilitative exercises were carried out early after operation. The patients were followed up postoperatively more than 6 months. According to the grading method of TAM for evaluation of the results, the excellentfair rate was 83.3%. This suture method and its advantages were introduced. The importance of atraumatic technique in operation and early ehabilitative excercises in order to prevent tendon adhesion were emphasized .
In order to seek a good method to treat the severe, complex damage of the digital flexor tendon, an anatomical study based on 30 cadavers was done, and the result showed that the source of the blood supply to the palmaris longus tendon was from the radial and ulnar arteries. Three cases of severe complex digital flexor tendon injuries were satisfactory. Its main advantages were: (1) The tendon transplant had its own blood supply and had no need to the revascularization, therefore the adhesion formed between the tendon and adjacent tisues might be less;(2) Besides reparing the tendon defect, it can simultaneously solve the problem of the defect of the soft tissues and the skin.
ObjectiveTo discuss the method and effectiveness of Wide-awake technique in flexor tendon tenolysis.MethodsThe clinical data of 16 patients (22 fingers) with flexor tendon adhesion treated by Wide-awake technique for flexor tendon tenolysis between May 2019 and December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were all male, aged from 18 to 55 years old, with an average of 35 years old. Among them, 4 cases (7 fingers) after replantation of severed fingers, 4 cases (7 fingers) after flexor tendon rupture repair, and 8 cases (8 fingers) after open reduction and internal fixation of proximal fractures. The time from the original operation to this operation was 6-18 months, with an average of 8 months. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score was used to evaluate the patient’s pain during local anesthesia (when the first needle penetrated the skin), intraoperative, and 24 hours postoperatively; and the recovery of finger movement was evaluated by total finger joint active range of motion (TAM) evaluation system and Strickland (1980) standard after operation.ResultsIntraoperative hemostasis and anesthesia were satisfactory, and the patient could fully cooperate with the surgeon in active finger movements. There were different degrees of pain during local anesthesia (VAS score was 2-4), no pain during operation (VAS score was 0), and different degrees of pain after operation (VAS score was 1-8, 9 patients needed analgesics). All incisions healed by first intention after operation. All 16 cases were followed up 9-15 months with an average of 12 months. Finger function was significantly improved, no tendon rupture occurred. At last follow-up, the patients after proximal fracture open reduction and internal fixation were rated as excellent in 4 fingers and good in 4 fingers according to the TAM standard, and both were excellent according to the Strickland (1980) standard; and the patients after replantation of severed fingers and flexor tendon rupture repair were rated as excellent in 4 fingers and good in 10 fingers according to TAM standard, and as excellent in 6 fingers and good in 8 fingers according to Strickland (1980) standard.ConclusionWide-awake technique applied in flexor tendon tenolysis can accurately judge the tendon adhesion and release degree through the patient’s active activity, achieve the purpose of complete release, and the effectiveness is satisfactory; the effectiveness of tendon adhesion release surgery after fracture internal fixation is better than that of patients after tendon rupture suture and replantation.
The poly-lactic acid membrane is characterized by its non-toxicity, non-carcinogenic and the property of degradation in the body in animal experiment, this membrane was wrapped around the tenorrhaphy site. The results showed that 3 to 9 weeks after operation there was an intact space surrounding the tendon, and the membrane began to degradate at 24 weeks, might achieve the purpose to prevent the formation of adhesion. From Nov. 1985 to Sept. 1989, this membrane was applied to 20 tendons of 14 patients. The follow-up results showed that the satisfactory rate was 81.8% .the indications of using poly-lacic acid membrane were primary, delayed primary and secondary suture of flexor tendon injuries in areas of the fingers.
To evaluate the effect of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) appl ied topically on preventing adhesion andpromoting functional recovery after tendon repair. Methods From August 2003 to June 2007, 48 patients with flexor tendonrupture of the fingers by sharp instrument were treated and randomly divided into two groups. In 5-FU group, 39 fingers of 26 patients included 17 males and 9 females, aged (29.3 ± 9.8) years; the locations were zone I in 19 fingers and zone II in 20 fingers; single finger was involved in 12 cases and more than 2 fingers were involved in 14 cases; and the time from injury to operation was (2.4 ± 1.6) hours. In control group, 36 fingers of 22 patients included 14 males and 8 females; aged (26.1 ± 8.7) years; the locations were zone I in 16 fingers and zone II in 20 fingers; single finger was involved in 10 cases and more than 2 fingers were involved in 12 cases; and the time from injury to operation was (2.1 ± 1.8) hours. No statistically significant difference was found in constituent ratio of age, gender, injured fingers and their zones, between two groups (P gt; 0.05). The repair site in 5-FU group was given 5-FU at a concentration of 25 mg/mL with a soaked sponge, and the synovial sheath of the repaired site was wrapped with the 5-FU-soaked sponge for 1 minute for 4 times after the tendons were repaired; normal sal ine was used in the control group. Results Wound healed by first intention and no infection and tendon rupture occurred in two groups. The patients were followed up for 3-8 months (mean 4.1 months) and 3-8 months (mean 3.9 months) in 5-FU group and in control group respectively. The functional recovery degrees of the fingers were evaluated with total active movement (TAM) evaluation system. In 5-FU group, the results were excellent in 22 fingers, good in 13 fingers, fair in 3 fingers and poor in 1 finger; the excellentand good rate was 89.7%. In control group, the results were excellent in 11 fingers, good in 15 fingers, fair in 9 fingers andpoor in 1 finger; the excellent and good rate was 72.2%. There was statistically significant difference in the functional recovery degrees of fingers between two groups (P lt; 0.05). The 2 fingers which had a poor result in 5-FU group and control group were served with tenolysis was performed in 2 cases having poor results after 6 months of operation and had an excellent result at last. Conclusion 5-FU appl ied topically can reduce tendon adhesions after the ruptured tendon repair.
OBJECTIVE To introduce the surgical procedure and clinical result of microsurgical repair on collateral ligament rupture in the interphalangeal joint using superficial flexor tendon of finger. METHODS From 1987, 23 cases with collateral ligament rupture in the interphalangeal joint were repaired by part of superficial flexor tendon of finger. The initial point of collateral ligament was drilled two holes, 2 to 3 mm in distance, and crossed by steel wire. Then the superficial flexor tendon of finger was crossed under the steel wire and sutured to the terminal point of superficial flexor tendon of finger by 5/0 to 7/0 nontraumatic suture thread to maintain suitable tension, and sutured to collateral ligament by 8/0 nontraumatic suture thread. Extension splint fixation was performed 4 to 6 weeks postoperatively. RESULTS Followed up 3 to 6 months, 15 cases were excellent, 6 cases were better, 2 cases were moderate, and the excellent rate was 91.34% according to Saetta standard. CONCLUSION Microsurgical repair on collateral ligament rupture in the interphalangeal joint using superficial flexor tendon of finger is a convenient and effective surgical method.