[Flexor tendoplasty with a tendon prosthesis for zone II flexor tendon injuries]

We evaluated two-staged flexor tendoplasty with tendon prosthesis in patients with flexor tendon injuries in which conventional tendon grafting would fail to yield an acceptable result.

We performed flexor tendoplasty with tendon prosthesis in 37 hands of 31 patients (24 males, 7 females; mean age 23 years; range 4-46 years). Twenty-six patients had penetrating injuries, four had occupational injuries, and one patient had an electric burn. Preoperatively, all patients were evaluated according to the Boyes' classification. At the first stage, a silicone prosthesis, 4-6 mm in diameter was placed according to the patient's age and the recipient bed; after 3 to 5 months, silicone prosthesis was removed and flexor tendoplasty with a tendon graft was performed. The results were calculated according to the Strickland's formula. The mean follow-up period after the second operation was 37 months (range 12-80 months).

The results were excellent in 11 hands (Strickland 75-100%), good in 15 hands (50-74%), moderate in nine hands (25-49%), and poor in two hands (0-24%), with a mean of 58%. Tenolysis was performed in seven patients at least four months after the second stage. Removal of the tendon prosthesis was required in one patient because of infection.

Satisfactory results can be obtained with two-staged flexor tendoplasty with a tendon prosthesis in patients with joint injuries restricting finger movements, digital nerve injuries causing trophic changes in the finger, and multiple tissue injuries.