FLEXOR TENDON-PULLEY INTERACTION AFTER TENDON REPAIR - A BIOMECHANICAL STUDY

Ten normal ring fingers from ten donors were used to determine the eff ect of flexor tendon repair on the gliding resistance between the tend on and the A2 pulley. Gliding resistance was measured for the intact F DP tendon and for the same tendon after it was cut transversely and re paired with a 4/0 Ticron core suture and a 6/0 running epitendinous ny lon suture. After repair, the gliding pattern of the tendon through th e A2 pulley changed significantly. The resistance and the friction coe fficient were approximately doubled (P < 0.005).