Flexor-tendon grafts in the less-than-optimum situation

A series of forty-six flexor-tendon grafts in forty-one patients is evaluated. All of these patients presented less-than-optimum situations for tendon-grafting due to persistent joint stiffness, deep cicatrix, preliminary skin-grafting procedures, nerve damage, or severe multiple injuries.The results show a worth-while gain of flexion in the proximal interphalangeal joint of the fingers, but a poor gain in the distal interphalangeal joint. In the thumb this gain in flexion is less important for function if the intrinsic muscles are adequate. However, the importance of a flexor-tendon graft in the severely injured hand is judged by the contribution to the over-all function rather than the exact degree of motion obtained.