Primary repair of flexor tendons in the hand without immobilisation-preliminary report

A new approach to the problem of flexor tendon repair within the fibro-osseous canal is presented. Using a technique of bevelling the tendon ends and suturing with a fine suture material, under magnificaiton, a sufficiently strong junction is obtained, which enables immediate active mobilisation without strangulation of the blood supply. The junction can resist gap formation up to tensions of 4 Kg. It is postulated that under these conditions tendon nutrition is minimally interfered with, adhesions do not form, and the tendon heals by its own intrinsic healing ability.