Disappointing outcomes in staged flexor tendon grafting for isolated profundus loss

Staged flexor tendon grafting was conducted in sixteen young adults for isolated loss of the flexor digitorum profundus. Though thirteen of sixteen achieved a subjectively pleasing result, only seven of the sixteen cases achieved satisfactory results. Five major complications occurred in four patients. The overall results were no better than the results obtained for single stage flexor tendon grafting through an intact superficialis. This study establishes no advantage of staged flexor tendon grafts, over unstaged grafts for isolated profundus loss.