The polyester patch: a new technique to promote early motion exercises in extensor tendon transfers

The polyester patch made from Bard-DeBakey Woven Fabric (C.R. Bard, Inc., Haeverhill, MA, U.S.A.) was used as the core of the interlacing suture. This new technique was applied mainly to extensor tendon transfers on the dorsum of the hand. The end-to-end interlacing suture technique with polyester patch was applied to seven patients with rupture of the extensor pollicis longus tendon, and the end-to-side transfer with a patch was applied to three patients with ruptures of the finger extensor tendon. Evaluation was performed using % total amount of motion. All seven patients who received the end-to-end interlacing suture with a patch were evaluated as good. Of the three patients who received the end-to-side transfer with a patch, two cases had a good result, and one case had a fair result. With this technique, active motion exercise may be started immediately after surgery without cast immobilization.