Retrospective outcome analysis of staged flexor tendon reconstruction

Forty staged flexor tendon reconstructions were done in 38 patients between 1991 and 1997, Results were assessed by clinical examination and questionn aire, At follow-up (mean, 35 months) a tenolysis had already been done in 1 2 cases, In the long fingers there was a significant difference between tot al active motion (187 degrees) and total passive motion (237 degrees). Ther e was also a significant difference between active (24 degrees) and passive (58 degrees) IP motion in the thumbs. The mean power grip was 82%, pinch g rip 74% and key grip 63% of the contralateral hand. None of the ten FPL rec onstructions could be graded as excellent; four were good, using the criter ia of Buck-Gramcko ct al, (1976), Twenty-eight of the FDP reconstructions h ad excellent or good results, These results were better than the subjective scores given by the patients, 24 of whom complained of functional problems in daily life at follow-up.