Therapy after Flexor Tendon Repair.

Rehabilitation after flexor tendon repairs is a challenging process. The repaired tendon must be simultaneously protected from disruption and moved in a controlled fashion to prevent restrictive adhesion formation. Although measures are necessary to protect the repaired structures, early controlled motion is required to enhance healing and function.

The incidence of postoperative flare reaction and tissue complications in Dupuytren's disease using tension-free immobilization.

Purpose: Open fasciectomy represents a standard treatment of Dupuytren's disease. Although patients are commonly immobilized in extension to prevent postoperative contracture formation, immobilizing the extremity under tension may precipitate a flare reaction and scar-related complications. This study explores the incidence of flare reaction and other complications with postoperative tension-free splinting after fasciectomy for Dupuytren's contracture.

The effect of a therapy protocol for increasing correction of severely contracted proximal interphalangeal joints caused by dupuytren disease and treated with collagenase injection.

Purpose: To determine the effect of a specific orthotic intervention and therapy protocol on proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint contractures of greater than 40° caused by Dupuytren disease and treated with collagenase injections.

Methods: All patients with PIP joints contracted at least 40° by Dupuytren disease were prospectively invited to participate in the study. Following standard collagenase injection and cord rupture by a hand surgeon, a certified hand therapist evaluated and treated each patient based on a defined treatment protocol that consisted of orthotic intervention to address residual PIP joint contracture.