Hand clinics
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Flexor tendon reconstruction poses both a technical challenge to the hand surgeon and a rehabilitative challenge to the patient and therapist. The modified Paneva-Holevich technique, using a pedicled intra-synovial graft, is a safe and reliable means of staged flexor tendon reconstruction, offering a number of theoretical advantages over classic free-tendon grafting techniques. Clinical outcomes are at the least comparable, if not superior, to those achieved following free-tendon techniques with most authors reporting a low requirement for third stage tenolysis.
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The wide-awake approach to flexor tendon repair has decreased our rupture and tenolysis rates and permitted us to get consistently good results in cooperative patients. The wide-awake surgery allows the repair of gaps of the surgical repair site revealed with intraoperative active movement testing of the repair We are now doing midrange active movement after primary tendon repair. After tenolysis, full-range active motion is possible even before skin closure. We no longer perform flexor tendon repair with the tourniquet, sedation, and muscle paralysis of general or block (Bier or axillary) anesthesia.