Finger flexion force and hand grip strength after tendon repair

Isolated finger flexion force and hand grip strength were measured in a group of patients with flexor tendon lacerations treated by primary tendon repair. The results show that reduced isolated finger flexion force is much more common than reduced hand grip strength (66% and 26% respectively). Reduced finger flexion force is strongly correlated to elongation in tendon repair, to the range of motion in the distal interphalangeal joint, and to reduced hand grip strength in patients with lesions of both flexor tendons in one finger. Range of motion in the distal interphalangeal joint and hand grip strength in the individual patient are of little value for prediction of isolated finger flexion force, however. Hand grip strength is sufficient for evaluation of strength in many cases, but knowledge of finger flexion force is a valuable adjunct in analyzing patients with subjective and/or objective weakness in their hands after flexor tendon surgery.