Repair of the flexor tendon injuries of the hand in children : analysis of the repair techniques and type of immobilization

Abstract EN

This is a prospective study of flexor tendon repair in 26 children with 35 involved fingers, their age ranged between 1.5 to 15 years (average 7).

They were presented for surgery within 3 weeks of the injury.

Tendon repair using the 4- strand core suture technique was performed in 65% of the hands and 2-strand in 35%, and postoperatively 73% of the patients were immobilized by an above-elbow splint.

The average follow up period was 9 months (ranged from 4 to 24).

Using the Louisville scoring system, satisfactory results was achieved using 4 strand core suture technique and immobilization by above-elbow splint in 77% of the patients.

The postoperative complications consisted of tendon ruptures in 15% of the cases mostly in those repaired by 2-strand core sutures with immobilization by below-elbow splint.

So we believe that in children the suture technique and type of immobilization had a great influence on the final outcome following flexor tendon injuries.