Project description:Quality of life is enhanced by engagement in meaningful activities and participation using our hands. In African countries, people rely predominantly on the use of their hands to engage in economic productive activities, including agricultural, fishing, mining and construction, that are largely performed by machines in high-income contexts. Anecdotal evidence suggests a high incidence of flexor tendon injuries that are managed using protocols that were adopted from high-income countries and implemented without considering contextual differences. African therapists use discretion in selecting protocols thereby presenting inconsistency in tendon management. This result in challenges with ascertaining the most effective protocol, factors that influence protocols and the extent of evidence about flexor tendon rehabilitation in Africa. Therefore, this scoping review aims to provide evidence currently available on the rehabilitation of flexor tendons in African countries. This will synthesise the advantages and disadvantages of the current protocols and make proposals that are contextually relevant and cost-effective for rehabilitation of tendon injuries. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The research will follow the scoping review methodological framework developed by Arksey and O'Malley (2005). The search strategy was developed and will be used to retrieve articles from eight databases. Further literature will be searched in the bibliography of the identified eligible articles. Grey literature will be searched in scientifically reliable websites, organisations and other sources. Articles will be reviewed by two independent researchers and opinion will be sought from a third reviewer when disagreement prevails on the inclusion quality of an article. All relevant articles that meet the criteria will be analysed using Weft QDA. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The scoping review paper will be discussed with local therapists. Thereafter, findings will be published in the year 2021 and sent to rehabilitation associations in respective African countries.
Project description:This population-based study aimed to define how time to hand therapy following isolated zone II flexor tendon repairs impacts complications and secondary procedures.MethodsInsurance claims from the Truven MarketScan Databases were used to evaluate outcomes after isolated zone II flexor tendon repairs between January 2009 and October 2015. Cohorts differing in time to hand therapy were compared to evaluate the impact on complications, reoperation, and number of therapy sessions. Secondary outcomes analyzed how the number of therapy sessions affected rates of reoperation.ResultsHand therapy was identified in 82% of patients (N = 2867) following tendon reconstruction. Therapy initiation occurred within 1 week, 1-4 weeks, and after 4 weeks in 56%, 35%, and 9% of patients, respectively. Univariate analysis showed no difference in non-tendinous complications (27%, 30%, 29%; P = 0.29) or tendon rupture rates (13%, 13%, 10%; P = 0.42) within 90 days between cohorts. Multivariable analysis showed no difference in rates of tenolysis (6.3%, 6%, 4.4%; P > 0.01). In the early initiation cohort, >23 hand therapy sessions were associated with the highest rates of tenolysis (19%).ConclusionsDespite being a common fear of hand surgeons, early initiation of hand therapy was not associated with increased tendon rupture rates. Although delayed therapy is a concern for tendon scarring, it did not confer a higher risk of tenolysis. Complication rates do not appear to correlate with timing of hand therapy. Therefore, hand surgeons should promote early mobility following isolated flexor tendon injuries given the known functional outcome benefits.
Project description:There is no consensus on the most effective rehabilitation regimen following extensor tendon repair of the hand. This systematic review evaluates the outcomes of the various regimens. The Cochrane, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, AMED, PEDro, OTseeker databases were searched for any prospective randomised clinical trials comparing rehabilitation regimens for acute extensor tendon injuries in adults. Five papers met the inclusion criteria. The regimens were static immobilisation, dynamic splinting and early active motion (EAM). There was no standard format of reporting. The sample size ranged from 27 to 100 patients. The duration of follow-up ranged from 8 to 24 weeks. Overall, patients' total active motion improved with time. Early mobilisation regimens (active and passive) achieve quicker recovery of motion than static immobilisation but the long-term outcome appears similar. Given the comparable outcomes between dynamic splinting and EAM, we therefore favour EAM which is simpler and more convenient.
Project description:BackgroundPostoperative adhesions constitute a substantial clinical problem in hand surgery. Fexor tendon injury and repair result in adhesion formation around the tendon, which restricts the gliding function of the tendon, leading to decreased digit mobility and impaired hand recovery. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of the peptide PXL01 in preventing adhesions, and correspondingly improving hand function, in flexor tendon repair surgery.MethodsThis prospective, randomised, double-blind trial included 138 patients admitted for flexor tendon repair surgery. PXL01 in carrier sodium hyaluronate or placebo was administered around the repaired tendon. Efficacy was assessed by total active motion of the injured finger, tip-to-crease distance, sensory function, tenolysis rate and grip strength, and safety parameters were followed, for 12 months post-surgery.ResultsThe most pronounced difference between the treatment groups was observed at 6 months post-surgery. At this timepoint, the total active motion of the distal finger joint was improved in the PXL01 group (60 vs. 41 degrees for PXL01 vs. placebo group, p = 0.016 in PPAS). The proportion of patients with excellent/good digit mobility was higher in the PXL01 group (61% vs. 38%, p = 0.0499 in PPAS). Consistently, the PXL01 group presented improved tip-to-crease distance (5.0 vs. 15.5 mm for PXL01 vs. placebo group, p = 0.048 in PPAS). Sensory evaluation showed that more patients in the PXL01 group felt the thinnest monofilaments (FAS: 74% vs. 35%, p = 0.021; PPAS: 76% vs. 35%, p = 0.016). At 12 months post-surgery, more patients in the placebo group were considered to benefit from tenolysis (30% vs. 12%, p = 0.086 in PPAS). The treatment was safe, well tolerated, and did not increase the rate of tendon rupture.ConclusionsTreatment with PXL01 in sodium hyaluronate improves hand recovery after flexor tendon repair surgery. Further clinical trials are warranted to determine the most efficient dose and health economic benefits.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT01022242; EU Clinical Trials 2009-012703-25.
Project description:To determine the benefit of antibiotic prophylaxis on postoperative mobility in flexor tendon repairs, case notes of 72 flexor tendon injuries in twenty four patients were analyzed retrospectively (2001-2003). Only patients with non-contaminated injuries from sharp instruments in flexor zone 2 were included in the study; 57% were male, average age was 31 years, and 24% were smokers. The majority of injuries were caused by metal blades (45%). Most tendons were repaired with modified Kessler technique (69%). Twenty-five percent received intravenous flucloxacillin or co-amoxiclav perioperatively. Reduced total active motion (TAM, found in 25% of patients more than 7 weeks after surgical repair) significantly complicated patients without perioperative intravenous flucloxacillin cover. The use of intravenous perioperative flucloxacillin is a plausible adjunct in surgery to prevent postoperatively reduced mobility.
Project description:The correct management of partially divided flexor tendon injuries is still controversial. Opinions vary regarding whether partially divided flexor tendon injuries should be repaired. Flexor tendon injuries are common because the tendons lie close to the skin. The tendons are therefore exposed to injuries like lacerations and crush injuries, and occasionally they can rupture from where they are joined to the bone. Tendon injuries are the second most common hand injuries in orthopedic patients.
Project description:IntroductionRelative motion splinting has been used successfully in the treatment of extensor tendon repairs and has recently been applied in flexor tendon rehabilitation. The purpose of this systematic review was to identify articles reporting use of relative motion flexion (RMF) splinting following flexor tendon repair and to examine indications for use and clinical outcomes.MethodsSeven medical databases, four trials registries and three grey literature sources were systematically searched and screened against pre-specified eligibility criteria. Screening, data extraction and quality appraisal were independently performed by two reviewers.ResultsA total of 12 studies were identified, of which three met the review eligibility criteria: one retrospective case series; one cadaveric proof of concept study; and one ongoing prospective case series. The type of splint (including metacarpophalangeal joint position and available movement), exercise programme, and zone of tendon injury varied between studies. Both case series presented acceptable range of movement and grip strength outcomes. The prospective series reported one tendon rupture and two tenolysis procedures; the retrospective series reported no tendon ruptures or secondary surgeries.DiscussionWe found limited evidence supporting the use of RMF splinting in the rehabilitation of zones I-III flexor tendon repairs. Further prospective research with larger patient cohorts is required to assess the clinical outcomes, patient reported outcomes and safety of RMF splinting in comparison to other regimes. Application of the relative motion principles to flexor tendon splinting varied across the included studies, and we suggest an operational definition of relative motion in this context.
Project description:BackgroundWithout surgical repair, flexor tendon injuries do not heal and patients' ability to bend fingers and grip objects is impaired. However, flexor tendon repair surgery also requires optimal rehabilitation. There are currently three custom-made splints used in the rehabilitation of zone I/II flexor tendon repairs, each with different assumed harm/benefit profiles: the dorsal forearm and hand-based splint (long), the Manchester short splint (short), and the relative motion flexion splint (mini). There is, however, no robust evidence as to which splint, if any, is most clinical or cost effective. The Flexor Injury Rehabilitation Splint Trial (FIRST) was designed to address this evidence gap.MethodsFIRST is a parallel group, superiority, analyst-blind, multi-centre, individual participant-randomised controlled trial. Participants will be assigned 1:1:1 to receive either the long, short, or mini splint. We aim to recruit 429 participants undergoing rehabilitation following zone I/II flexor tendon repair surgery. Potential participants will initially be identified prior to surgery, in NHS hand clinics across the UK, and consented and randomised at their splint fitting appointment post-surgery. The primary outcome will be the mean post-randomisation score on the patient-reported wrist and hand evaluation measure (PRWHE), assessed at 6, 12, 26, and 52 weeks post randomisation. Secondary outcome measures include blinded grip strength and active range of movement (AROM) assessments, adverse events, adherence to the splinting protocol (measured via temperature sensors inserted into the splints), quality of life assessment, and further patient-reported outcomes. An economic evaluation will assess the cost-effectiveness of each splint, and a qualitative sub-study will evaluate participants' preferences for, and experiences of wearing, the splints. Furthermore, a mediation analysis will determine the relationship between patient preferences, splint adherence, and splint effectiveness.DiscussionFIRST will compare the three splints with respect to clinical efficacy, complications, quality of life and cost-effectiveness. FIRST is a pragmatic trial which will recruit from 26 NHS sites to allow findings to be generalisable to current clinical practice in the UK. It will also provide significant insights into patient experiences of splint wear and how adherence to splinting may impact outcomes.Trial registrationISRCTN: 10236011.
Project description:Adhesion formation after flexor tendon repair remains a clinical problem. Early postoperative motion after tendon repair has been demonstrated to reduce adhesion formation while increasing tendon strength. It is hypothesized that during mobilization, tendon cells experience mechanical shear forces that alter their biology in a fashion that reduces scar formation but also activates key genes involved in tendon healing. To test this hypothesis, primary intrinsic tenocyte cultures were established from flexor tendons of 20 Sprague-Dawley rats and sheared at 50 rpm (0.41 Pa) using a cone viscometer for 6 and 12 hours. Total RNA was harvested and compared with time-matched unsheared controls using cDNA microarrays and Northern blot analysis. Microarray analysis demonstrated that mechanical shear stress induced an overall "antifibrotic" expression pattern with decreased transcription of collagen type I and collagen type III. Shear stress down-regulated profibrotic molecules in the platelet-derived growth factor, insulin-like growth factor, and fibroblast growth factor signaling pathways. In addition, shear stress induced an overall decrease in transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta signaling pathway molecules with down-regulation of TGF-beta2, TGF-beta3, TGF-RI, and TGF-RII expression. Moreover, sheared tendon cells increased expression of matrix metalloproteinases and decreased expression of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase, an expression pattern consistent with an antifibrotic increase in extracellular matrix degradation. However, up-regulation of genes implicated in tendon healing, specifically, vascular endothelial growth factor-A and several bone morphogenetic proteins. Interestingly, the known mechanoresponsive gene, TGF-beta1, also implicated in tendon healing, was differentially up-regulated by shear stress. Northern blot validation of our results for TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2, TGF-beta3, and collagen type I demonstrated direct correlation with microarray data. Groups of assays that are related as part of a time series. Keywords: time_series_design
Project description:Medial epicondylitis, also known as "golfer's elbow," is a common orthopaedic condition that typically results from overuse of the flexor pronator mass. Repetitive eccentric loading of the muscles responsible for wrist flexion and forearm pronation leads to microtrauma and subsequent degeneration of the flexor pronator tendon. Patients with medial epicondylitis typically present in the fourth to sixth decade of life and have an insidious onset of medial elbow pain. Occasionally, medial epicondylitis may result from an acute traumatic event, such as an acute avulsion of the common flexor tendon. Patients should be examined for concomitant elbow pathologies, including ulnar neuritis and ulnar collateral ligament injury. T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging can show increased signal intensity in the common flexor tendon or a complete rupture. Nonsurgical management is the mainstay of treatment; however, surgical treatment may be indicated in elite athletes and patients with persistent symptoms after conservative treatment. This technique article with accompanying video describes open debridement and repair of the flexor pronator tendon, with an emphasis on restoration of the anatomic footprint and compression across the repair site to promote biological healing.