[Flexor tendoplasty with a tendon prosthesis for zone II flexor tendon injuries].

Objectives: We evaluated two-staged flexor tendoplasty with tendon prosthesis in patients with flexor tendon injuries in which conventional tendon grafting would fail to yield an acceptable result.

Methods: We performed flexor tendoplasty with tendon prosthesis in 37 hands of 31 patients (24 males, 7 females; mean age 23 years; range 4-46 years). Twenty-six patients had penetrating injuries, four had occupational injuries, and one patient had an electric burn. Preoperatively, all patients were evaluated according to the Boyes' classification. At the first stage, a silicone prosthesis, 4-6 mm in diameter was placed according to the patient's age and the recipient bed; after 3 to 5 months, silicone prosthesis was removed and flexor tendoplasty with a tendon graft was performed. The results were calculated according to the Strickland's formula. The mean follow-up period after the second operation was 37 months (range 12-80 months).

Results: The results were excellent in 11 hands (Strickland 75-100%), good in 15 hands (50-74%), moderate in nine hands (25-49%), and poor in two hands (0-24%), with a mean of 58%. Tenolysis was performed in seven patients at least four months after the second stage. Removal of the tendon prosthesis was required in one patient because of infection.

Conclusion: Satisfactory results can be obtained with two-staged flexor tendoplasty with a tendon prosthesis in patients with joint injuries restricting finger movements, digital nerve injuries causing trophic changes in the finger, and multiple tissue injuries.