Abstract
Objectives
This is a new technique for tendon repair that may improve the results of existing
methods.
Methods
The study is a nonrandomized retrospective study using historical (nonconcurrent)
controls. From May 1994 to March 2004, 53 children aged 5 to 15 years requiring tendon
repair (test group) were compared to 53 children conventionally repaired (control
group). All patients had flexor tendon injuries, involving zone 2. In the test group
(53 patients), a modified Kessler repairing of tendons with 4-0 prolene was used,
followed by a core suture of running 7-0 nylon or prolene epitendinous suture. After
the tendon repair, a segment of vein through which the tendon had been passed before
or a vein patch used as a tendon sheath substitute was used to repair the sheath defects.
The results during 6 months of follow-up were compared with those of the control group
that were operated using the conventional technique (modified Kessler method).
Results
We assessed the results by measuring the range of motion of the metacarpophalangeal,
distal interphalangeal, and proximal interphalangeal joints in the follow-up period
and graded them as excellent, good, fair, and poor. In the test group, 86% were graded
as excellent, 11% good, 3% fair, and 0% poor results; and in the control group, 0%
were excellent, 12% good, 38% fair, and 50% poor results. The differences were significant
(P < .005).
Conclusions
Our preliminary results appeared encouraging when compared with the outcomes achieved
by the conventional tendon repair technique. As the new technique decreases the need
for intensive physiotherapy, it may serve as a substitute method for the conventional
tendon repair and eventually become a standard technique in the future.
Key words
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
April 8,
2009
Received in revised form:
April 7,
2009
Received:
October 3,
2008
Footnotes
☆Presented in the 5th European Congress of Trauma and Emergency Surgery, October 2002, Istanbul, Turkey.
Identification
Copyright
© 2009 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
