Ki. Silfverskiold et Ej. May, EARLY ACTIVE MOBILIZATION AFTER TENDON TRANSFERS USING MESH REINFORCED SUTURE TECHNIQUES, Journal of hand surgery. British volume, 20B(3), 1995, pp. 291-300
23 tendon transfers in the hand and forearm were performed using a pol
yester mesh sleeve to reinforce conventional suture techniques. Ah tra
nsfers were mobilized with active flexion and extension within 3 days
of operation. Excluding one rupture (due to extreme unintentional load
ing) and depending on the type of transfer used, a mean of between 69%
and 78% of the final active range of motion was obtained 1 month post
-operatively. With the exception of transfers for wrist extension, the
mean final active range of motion amounted to between 91% and 100% of
the available passive range of motion and between 75% and 100% of the
corresponding ''normal'' active range of motion in the opposite hand.
The mean final active range of motion after reconstructions for wrist
extension amounted to 85% of the passive range of motion and to at le
ast 80% of the maximum range of motion potentially available with the
transfers used. The results indicate that early active mobilization af
ter tendon transfers may offer significant advantages in terms of quic
ker and simpler rehabilitation as well as improved results.