[Initial results of treatment of a two-stage surgical technique of chronic flexor tendon injuries with Kleinert modified early mobilization].

The authors present first results after secondary two-stage flexor-tendon reconstruction and a modified postoperative management according to Kleinert. Between 1990 and 1993 we treated eight men and two women with an average age of 35 (19 to 58) years. All injuries were in zone 2. We used the silastic rod (5 mm) as an active gliding prosthesis in stage I. All patients received a palmaris tendon graft in stage II. The patients were treated with a modified Kleinert splinting technique inactivating the palmar traction, employing extension by a rubber band during the night after the second week. We had no complications during the whole treatment phase, no rupture of the tendon grafts and no infection. In our functional results, we saw in one case a lack of PIP-joint flexion of 10 degrees and in another an extension deficit of 15 degrees in the DIP-joint. With this modified technique we achieved satisfying results especially in otherwise non cooperative patients.