Flexor Tendon Injuries and Repairs: A Single Centre Experience

Background: Although flexor tendon injuries cause significant morbidities and socio-economic implications, there have been limited data on patient demographics, injury characteristics and surgical details. The aim of this study is to describe our experience in flexor tendon injuries and repairs.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study of all digital flexor tendon injuries that were repaired from January 2011 to December 2014. The collected data included patient demographics, injury characteristics and surgical details.

Results: A total of 214 patients, 308 digits with 446 flexor tendon repairs were identified. We found that males, non-residents, and 20–29 age group were most prone to flexor tendon injuries. Cleaners, labourers and related occupations were the most vulnerable. The mechanism of injury was usually work-related and mostly caused by glass. Most injuries involve both flexor digitorum profundus and flexor digitorum superficialis tendons. Concomitant digital nerve and vessel injuries were common. Most patients suffered zone 2 laceration of a single digit of the non-dominant hand. Most patients underwent procedures that lasted 1 to 2 hours, including multiple flexor tendon repairs, microsurgical repairs and other interventions.

Conclusions: This study is the largest study on patient demographics, injury characteristics and surgical details on flexor tendon injuries and repairs. It could be used to plan resources and policies for the management and prevention of flexor tendon injuries.