Flexor tendon surgery. Part 2: Free tendon grafts and tenolysis.

We have attempted to review the development and current status of flexor tendon surgery. The methods of acute flexor tendon repair, conventional free tendon grafting, staged flexor tendon reconstruction, tenolysis and pulley restoration have been discussed, with the published results included for each procedure. The role of rehabilitation has also been reviewed and the ongoing quest for an active flexor tendon prosthetic implant has been briefly mentioned. It may be seen that flexor tendon surgery is a complex and difficult art which requires a thorough appreciation of the normal flexor tendon system, the exact status of that system following injury and surgery and a strong understanding of the techniques which may be best utilised to restore tendon gliding and digital joint motion. The procedures described require both technical skill and experience and the post-operative therapy programmes must be carefully chosen for each patient. With the important laboratory and clinical advancements occurring in many areas of flexor tendon surgery, it is realistic to believe that in the future the techniques described here will be substantially altered and modified and to hope that results will continue to improve until the patient and surgeon can expect to restore most digits to nearly full function after flexor tendon interruption.