Primary repair of zone I flexor tendon injuries

Eighty-two patients who were treated by suture repair for zone I flexor tendon injuries over a ten-year period were identified, to determine the incidence of post-operative surgical complications and subsequent re-operations. Eighty-five percent of patients completed 12 weeks follow-up post-surgery. Of these patients almost all had good to excellent outcome in terms of total active movement (TAM). However when assessing the range of motion at the distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ), only 23% could be classified as having good or excellent results at final follow-up. A total of six patients (7.32%) required surgery for tendon repair complications. This study illustrates that DIPJ ROM is more indicative of functional recovery after tendon repair in flexor zone I. Given the DIPJ is important in providing a fine pinch and a span pinch grip movements, patients should be counselled for inability to perform these functions post-tendon repair.