Rehabilitation after flexor tendon repair and others: a safe and efficient protocol.

Abstract

In this review I detail the protocol that I use after flexor tendon repair and outline my experience regarding how its framework might be used for other disorders. The early passive-active flexion protocol has a sufficient number of cycles of active flexion in each exercise session, which is at least 40, and ideally 60 to 80. The frequency of exercise sessions may range from 4 to 6 a day, distributed in the morning, afternoon and evening. Increasing the number of daily sessions without a sufficient number of runs in each session is ineffective. In the first 2-3 weeks after surgery, active digital flexion should go through only a partial range. In weeks 4-6, the patient gradually moves through the full range. With modifications, I suggest generalization of the partial-range finger motion to therapy after treating other hand injuries. I consider partial-range active flexion a generalizable working principle for different hand disorders.

• Authors: Jin Bo Tang
• Journal: The Journal of hand surgery, European volume (J Hand Surg Eur Vol) Vol. 46 Issue 8 Pg. 813-817 (10 2021) ISSN: 2043-6289 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 34384293 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Topics

• Finger Injuries (surgery)
• Fingers
• Hand Injuries (surgery)
• Humans
• Range of Motion, Articular
• Tendon Injuries (surgery)
• Tendons (surgery)