Rehabiliation of flexor tendon injuries by use of a combined regimen of modified Kleinert and modified Duran techniques

Objective: Kleinert (active extension, rubber-band passive flexion) and Dur an (passive extension, passive flexion) protocols are two basic types of ea rly motion programs for rehabilitation of flexor tendon injuries. Researche rs have been working on various modifications or combinations of these two protocols to improve rehabilitation results. The purpose of this study was to analyze the quality of the functional results of flexor tendon repair af ter a postoperative regimen of early mobilization by use of a combined regi men of modified Kleinert and modified Duran techniques. Design: Thirty-seven patients (74 digits) with repaired flexor tendon injur ies were treated. Functional results of the fingers were evaluated by the B uck-Gramcko system and total active motion measurements. Results: The results were excellent in 73% of the fingers, good in 24%, fai r in 1.5%, and none was rated poor. Conclusion: Our results are comparable with the previous studies that used various postoperative rehabilitation techniques. This postoperative managem ent provides an effective way of achieving satisfactory results. Patient-as sisted passive exercises are very safe and more cost effective than therapi st-assisted passive exercises.