Results of primary reparing of hand extensor tendons injuries using surgical treatment

Injuries of hand extensor tendons occur as isolated or combined injury or multiple tendons injuries associated with injuries of other hand structures. Clinical pictures of these injuries depends on the level of occurred injury, and can be expressed in loss of function extension of one or more fingers, wrist and creating contractures.

This is five-year retrospective study of 87 patients operated at Clinic for Plastic and reconstructive surgery, Clinical Centre University of Sarajevo. We studied the efficiency of primary surgical treatment in hand extensor tendons injuries in the prevention of hand dysfunction.

The best recovery results after surgical treatment of hand extensor tendons injury were in zones I, zone II and zone III. But, in zone VII recovery was difficult, and the outcome unpredictable. The most commonly injured zone was zone VI, and in zones of thumb usually violated zone was zone T-III. According to Miller's assessment criteria and recovery functions, after 6 weeks, with excellent finding was 41 (47,1%) and good results 21 (24,0%) of patients, while after 6 months, the excellent results were in 60 (68,9%) and good results in 28,7% of patients, due to well-conducted physical rehabilitation. Only two patient had complications at 6 months after surgery due to very complicated associated injuries of soft tissues and bone structures of the hand.

Results depends in extensivity of injury, anatomic zone, lack of infection, concomitant injuries, skills and operative methods of surgeon.