Tendon 'turnover lengthening' technique

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Hand Surgery
• Reconstructive Surgery

Background:

• Tendon reconstruction in the hand presents significant surgical challenges.
• Existing methods like grafting and transfers have associated complications.
• Direct tendon repair is not always feasible for substantial defects.

Observation:

• A novel 'turnover lengthening' technique was developed for hand tendon defects.
• This technique was successfully applied to two patients with flexor and extensor tendon ruptures.
• Primary tenorrhaphy was not possible in these cases.

Findings:

• The turnover lengthening technique achieved good post-operative outcomes in both patients.
• Patients returned to normal daily activities within 12 weeks.
• The technique is suitable for defects up to 3-4 cm, offering immediate, single-stage reconstruction.

Implications:

• This method avoids the morbidity of tendon grafting and transfers.
• It is a simple, reproducible technique for specific hand tendon defects.
• It preserves options for salvage procedures if initial repair fails.