Does early movement speed the recovery of function of repaired flexor tendon?

The effect of early movement on flexion return in the repaired deep flexor tendon of 85 chicken toes was assessed. Postoperatively, the leg was immobilized in plaster. Beginning 18 days after surgery, minimal flexion of the third toe was induced by electrical stimulation of the deep flexor muscle in 38 chickens. Thirty-five days after surgery the plaster was removed and during the next 25 days the flexion was measured 15 times and compared with preoperative findings in the same chicken. In birds with early movement, averages of the last 4 daily measurements of total flexion were significantly greater (p = 0.005) than in those without stimulation. The extent of the loss of flexion depended on the quality and anatomical location of the peritendinous connections. Greatly reduced flexion was seen in the presence of multiple fibrotic interflexor bridges and firm adhesions. There were significantly fewer dehiscences at the repair site in the stimulated than in nonstimulated birds (standard error of difference = 9.2, difference 21.9%).