Flexor tendon injuries: the results of primary repair

This study is a critical analysis of results obtained following primary repair and post-operative controlled mobilisation of flexor tendon injuries which were treated by registrars with up to six months experience in hand surgery. 70 (55%) of 125 patients who underwent repair of a complete flexor digitorum profundus or flexor pollicis longus tendon injury during a 14-month period attended for review and these had a total of 140 injured digits. 93 (67%) were rated by Lister's standards as an "excellent" or "good" result. 39 (28%) occurred in "no man's land" (Zone 2) and only 19 (49%) in this area were rated "excellent" or "good". Isolated flexor digitorum superficialis tendon injuries have been excluded from this study, as have partial tendon injuries.