Closed traumatic rupture of finger flexor pulleys

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Hand Surgery
• Traumatology

Background:

• Closed traumatic rupture of the digital flexor pulley system is a rare injury.
• This injury often leads to significant flexion contractures of the proximal interphalangeal joint and bow-stringing of flexor tendons.
• Accurate diagnosis and effective treatment are crucial for restoring hand function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the clinical presentation and outcomes of patients with closed traumatic rupture of the digital flexor pulley system.
• To evaluate the efficacy of surgical pulley reconstruction versus conservative management.
• To highlight the diagnostic methods for this specific injury.

Main Methods:

• Case series describing nine patients with closed traumatic rupture of the digital flexor pulley system.
• Surgical exploration and pulley reconstruction in seven patients.
• Tenogram and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for diagnosis in conservatively treated patients.

Main Results:

• All nine patients presented with proximal interphalangeal joint flexion contractures and flexor tendon bow-stringing.
• Seven patients underwent surgical pulley reconstruction, achieving good functional outcomes.
• Conservative treatment in two patients was verified by tenogram and MRI, with outcomes not detailed.

Conclusions:

• Closed traumatic rupture of the digital flexor pulley system requires prompt diagnosis and intervention.
• Surgical pulley reconstruction appears to be an effective treatment for restoring function.
• Further research may be needed to fully elucidate outcomes with conservative management.