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Purpose: The rehabilitation program after flexor tendon repair of zone II laceration varies. We designed a Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial of controlled passive mobilization (modified Kleinert) vs. Place and active hold exercises after zone 2-flexor tendon repair by two-strand suture (Modified kessler).

Methods: Sixty-four fingers in 54 patients with zone 2 flexor tendon modified Kessler repairs were enrolled in a prospective randomized controlled trial comparing place and active hold exercises to controlled passive mobilization (modified Kleinert). The primary outcome measure was total active motion eight weeks after repair as measured by an independent and blinded therapist.

Results: Patients treated with place and active hold exercises had significantly greater total active motion (146) eight weeks after surgery than patients treated with controlled passive mobilization (114) (modified Klinert). There were no ruptures in either group.

Conclusions: Place and hold achieves greater motion than controlled passive mobilization after a two-strand repair for zone 2 flexor tendon repairs.

Purpose: The aim of our study is to develop a suture technique that has sufficient strength of active mobilization.

Methods: Thirty two fingers of six fresh human cadavers were divided into two groups. Flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) tendons in the study group were repaired by modified Brunelli suture technique and modified Kessler suture technique, while those in the control group were repaired by Modified Kessler suture technique. Flexion and extension movements were performed with 10 N of load, increasing 1 N at a time to the tendons in both groups. Rupture and significant gap formation was evaluated up to 20 N of load. In the study, to evaluate the resistance to active motion, 1000 times flexion and extension motion cycle was performed with a load of 20 N. The succeeding repaired tendons was also tested with flexion and extension movements increasing the load 1 N at a time.

Results: In the study group, failure and significant gap formation on the repair zone were not observed after 20 N of load and 1000 times cyclic flexion and extension movements for resisting to active motion. The rupture and significant gap formation was observed on a average load of 98.43 ± 0.47 N. In the Modified Kessler suture technique, on the eight tendons before reaching the 20 N of load for resisting to active motion, and the remaining eight tendons, during the 20 N loaded motion cycle essential for active motion, rupture and significant gap formation was observed. The failure and significant gap formation was observed on a average load of 18.37 ± 1.89 N. It is measured that by accompanying Modified Brunelli suture to the Modified Kessler suture technique, the resistance was increased up to 5–6 times.

Discussion: By the Modified Brunelli suture technique, active motion can be started to the finger without a dorsal block sling immediately after the surgery.

Clinical Relavans: By the modified technique, the rehabilitation difficulty and joint stiffness will be minimized.

Background: Previous studies have shown that outcomes following a place and active hold (PAH) are better than a passive flexion protocol after a two-strand core-suture repair of flexor tendons injuries in zone II. This study aims to determine the outcomes of a PAH protocol of flexor tendon rehabilitation following a four-strand core-suture plus an epitendinous suture repair of the flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) combined with a simple horizontal loop repair of the flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS).

Methods: This is a prospective study of patients with complete injury to both flexor tendons in zone II. All tendons were repaired with a simple horizontal loop for FDS and four-strand core-suture plus epitendinous suture for FDP. The PAH protocol was used postoperatively for 6 weeks. The outcome was evaluated using flexion contracture and total active motion (TAM), interpreted using Strickland criteria and categorised as excellent, good, fair and poor at 6 weeks and 3 months. The linear regression model was used to determine predictors of outcomes.

Results: The study included 32 patients with flexor tendon injury in 46 fingers. No repairs ruptured, and 24 (52%) digits achieved good or excellent motion 6 weeks after surgery using the Strickland criteria. According to the Strickland criteria, 41 (89%) digits ranked as excellent and good with no poor result at a 3-month follow-up. Four patients had 5–10° of flexion contracture. Age was the predictor of TAM at 6 weeks and accounted for 13% of its variation. Improvement of TAM from 6 weeks to 3 months was related to age and flexion contracture at 6 weeks.

Conclusions: The PAH protocol can be considered a safe technique for flexor rehabilitation after four-strand core-suture repair of FDP in zone II.

Level of Evidence: Level IV (Therapeutic)