Repair of the flexor pollicis longus

There are more repair techniques available for an injured flexor pollicis longus than for the other digital flexors. The procedure of choice is immediate primary or early delayed repair (less than three weeks after injury) by direct end-to-end suture. Good thumb function can also be obtained with the use of late delayed repair by tendon advancement with or without lengthening, free tendon grafting, and tendon transfer.