DYNAMIC CONTROLLED MOBILIZATION AFTER EXT ENSOR TENDON REPAIR - A CONSECUTIVE SERIES OF 30 CASES

From January 1988 to May 1991, 30 patients (mean age : 27 years old ; range : 15 to 45) sustained 57 tendon injuries in 49 fingers. They wer e treated by primary repair with assisted post-operative mobilisation by a dynamic splint. Adhesion of extensor apparatus rate was 12 p. cen t but only one had a functional impairment. No other complications wer e noted. At the thumb level (3 out of 49 fingers) the Kapandji-test wa s respectively at 8,8 and 9/10 without any extensor lack. At the long fingers level TAM was excellent in 91 p. cent of cases, good in 4 p. c ent, fair and poor in 2 p. cent. According to Allieu classification re sults were good and excellent in 9 p. cent of cases. These results wer e better when injury was localised to or up to zone 5 according to Ver dan's classification, and when there was no associated bone nor articu lar injuries or cutaneous defects. Subjective results were less good ( 70 p. cent of satisfactory results) because of pain, grip strength lac k or disability. Assisted mobilisation allowed intrinsic healing and a voided adhesion when application date and rehabilitation protocol were respected. It was more beneficial for distal and complex injuries.