[Treatment of flexor tendon injuries in children]

In contrast to the standard therapy of flexor tendon injuries in adults, the postoperative treatment program for children remains a controversial topic. Some prefer immobilization therapy in a variety of forms and for different periods of time. Others prefer early mobilization programs. We present results for twenty-eight children with thirty-seven flexor tendon injuries. The average age was 5.8 years. After primary tendon suture in children six years and younger (group A), our postoperative program consisted of immobilization for three weeks. The older children (group B) were treated with an early passive mobilization program. Follow-up examinations were carried out on twenty six of the children at three months and at 3.7 years. Three months after surgery, the children in group A showed only average results while those in group B presented good finger motion. After 3.7 years both groups showed good results.