- See:
-
Primary Flexor Tendon Grafting:
-
Pulley Reconstruction:
-
Prosthetic Grafts:
- Discussion:
- indicated for delayed or neglected flexor tendon injuries, tendon rupture following previous attempted repair, and in some cases
is indicated for
zone II tendon injuries;
- probably in most cases, free tendon grafting is indicated for flexor tendon injuries which are dirty or contaminated at the time of injury;
-
palmaris longus or
plantaris are satisfactory graft choices;
- contra-indications:
- loss of full passive digit ROM;
- w/ isolated
FDP loss but good retention of
FDS function, tendon reconstruction risks worsening finger function;
- in this case, consider FDP tenodesis or
DIP joint fusion;
- Exam:
- pt must have full passive ROM of digits before free tendon grafting can be performed;
- in cases of isolated FDP loss, carefully assess function of the FDS tendon (if this is functioning then consider FDP tenodesis);
- Technique: Stage I (debridment / prosthetic graft insertion):
-
exposure:
-
phalangeal incisions: midlateral or Bruner skin incision is made to expose involved tendon;
- for index finger, proximal incision extends from radial aspect of proximal finger crease to ulnar aspect of middle crease
& radial aspect of the distal crease and then to ulnar aspect of finger pad;
- extension into the palm then follows the palmar creases;
- neurovascular structures are identified;
- annular ligaments are identified;
- save as much as the
tendon sheath as possible;
- while protecting annular ligaments, cruciate ligaments are opened to allow access to tendons;
-
tendon debridement:
- if the
FDP is the damaged tendon, excise the FDP tendon from the palm (at the level of the
lumbricals) upto the level of the DIP joint;
- preserve the distal 1 cm of the
FDP which will be used to help anchor the free tendon graft;
- avoid injury to profundus stump insertion, since this protects the volar plate and helps maintain a smooth gliding surface;
-
assess FDS tendon insertion:
- if the
FDS is damaged, then excise the distal 1-2 cm of its insertion;
- if the staged flexor tendon reconstruction of
Naam 1997 is to be used, then the proximal stumps of the FDS and FDP are sutured together, for later identification;
-
assessement of tendon sheath environment:
- scaring within flexor sheath, excessive
pulley system damage, joint contractures, and/or nerve injury mandate two-stage tendon grafting;
-
pulley reconstruction, joint release, or
nerve repair should be performed at this point in the case;
- ref:
Flexor sheath dilatation with a Fogarty catheter.
-
prosthetic grafts are inserted at this point;
- use the largest prosthetic graft that is possible;
- some use a twisted wire, to help pass the graft thru the sheath;
- graft is anchored proximally but left free distally;
- Stage II Reconstruction: (flexor tendon grafting)
- the second stage of free tendon grafting is completed when all signs of infection and significant scarring are absent;
-
donor graft:
-
palmaris longus;
-
plantaris;
- in the report by
FJ Leversedge et al 2000, the authors reported their results with using intrasynovial donor tendons
for flexor tendon reconstruction in 8 patients (10 digits) at a mean follow-up time of 3.8 years for neglected or
failed primary repair of zone 2 lacerations and for neglected flexor digitorum profundus avulsions;
- flexor digitorum longus to the second toe was used as the donor tendon graft.
- average active motion recovery was 64% and 56% for single-stage and multistage reconstructions, respectively, and
was 73% overall for single digit reconstructions;
-
distal incision is made over previous incision stopping at mid phalanx;
- make a small longitudinal incision in the distal sheath, w/ care not to injure the A4
pulley;
- locate the Hunter rod at the distal FDP stump;
- the rod is left anchored in place until,
tendon graft has been harvested;
-
proximal incision:
- proximal incision is reopened and the proximal aspect of the sheath is identified;
- distal end of prosthetic graft is cut, and prosthetic graft is pulled distally, pulling the tendon graft thru the sheath;
-
anchor the distal end of the tendon graft;
- the distal end is anchored first so that the proximal anastomosis can be used to judge appropriate tendon tension;
- the remaining FDP stump is split and sutured to both sides of the graft;
- use
pull thru technique to augment the repair;
- distally graft is held in place with a 3-0 Prolene pull out suture tied over a button placed on the finger nail as in
Zone I flexor tendon repairs;
- remaining stump of
FDP is sutured to tendon graft w/ 4-0 non-absorbable sutures;
- distal incision is closed down to the base of the digit;
-
reconstruction with disrupted FDS tendon
- if the staged flexor tendon reconstruction of
Naam 1997 is used, then the site of the
proximal FDS / FDP juncture is located (which had been sutured together previously);
- FDS of the involved finger is exposed and is divided proximally, hence it is a free tendon graft;
- the free (proximal) end of the FDS tendon graft is sutured to the prosthetic graft;
- the free FDS graft is sutured to the remant FDP stump;
- since the proximal portion of the graft has already been sutured together, proper tension needs to be established at this point in the case;
-
reconstruction with intact FDS tendon insertion:
- flexor tendon grafting through the intact sublimis tendons may cause impingement, and in this case, the surgeon may
consider release of one limb of the FDS insertion;
- ref:
Resection of the flexor digitorum superficialis reduces gliding resistance after zone II flexor digitorum profundus repair in vitro.
-
anchoring the proximal tendon end:
- the proximal end is anchored after the distal end, so that tensioning the graft is easier;
-
misc:
- a common complication postoperatively is hyperflexion of the DIP joint;
- to avoid this complication, consider inserting a pin across the extended DIP joint for a period of 10-14 days, and in the mean time, have the patient concentrate on PIP motion;
- Post Op Care:
- dorsal split is applied w/ wrist in 40 deg of flexion and MP flexed to 90 deg, until patient is ready to begin passive ROM;
Autogenous flexor-tendon grafts. A biomechanical and morphological study in dogs.
Two-stage flexor-tendon reconstruction. Ten-year experience.
Staged Flexor Tendon Reconstruction Using Pedicled Tendon Graft From the Flexor Digitorum Superficialis.
NH Naam MD.
J. Hand Surg. 22-A. 323-327. p 1997.
Flexor Tendon Reconstruction in Severely Damaged Hands: a two staged procedure using a silicone-Darcon reinforced gliding prosthesis prior to tendon grafting.
Hunter JM, Salisbury RE.
JBJS 53-A: 829-858. 1971.
Primary Flexor Tendon Repair Followed by Immediate Controlled Mobilization.
Lister GD, Kleinert HE, Kurtz JE, Atasoy E.
J Hand Surg. 2: 441-451. 1977.
Bridge flexor tendon grafts.
Two-stage flexor tendon reconstruction in zone II using a silicone rod and a pedicled intrasynovial graft.
Staged flexor tendon reconstruction fingertip to palm.
Flexor tendon grafting to the hand: An assessment of the intrasynovial donor tendon—A preliminary single-cohort study.
Staged flexor tendon reconstruction fingertip to palm.
Surgical treatment of the divided flexor digitorum profundus tendon in zone 2, delayed more than 6 weeks, by tendon grafting in 50 cases.
