A Biomechanical And Morphological Study Of Early Active Mobilization After Flexor Tendon Repair

Objective To investigate the effect of early active mobilization on wound healing of flexor tendon. To approach the feasibility of early active mobilization after flexor tendon repair. Methods Three chickens which hadn't been operated of 54 adult healthy Red bro chickens were tested to evaluate the force of unrisisted active flexion of normal chicken's flexor digitorum profunds (FDP) tendons. The rest chickens' FDP tendons of two sides' third toes were repaired with the modified Kessler technique after transection . The toes of experimental group were not fixed with anything while the toes of control group were immobilized with cast. 3 of 51 chickens were sacrificed at 0 day after surgery and the repaired tendons were evaluated for breaking strength. 24 chickens were sacrificed at 3 days, 7 days, 14 days, 21 days after surgery and the repaired tendons were evaluated for breaking strength, excursion and maximum energy consumption. The rest 24 chickens were sacrificed at 3 days, 7 days, 14 days, 21 days after surgery and the repaired tendons were observed with naked eyes and light microscope, then were measured for adhesion area. The experiment groups were compared with the control groups. Results The breaking strength of experimental group's FDP tendons were much larger than the force of unrisisted active flexion of normal FDP tendon from 0 day after operation. In the biomechanical test, the breaking strength in 7 days after surgery, the excursion in any postoperative period, the maximum energy consumption in 3 days and 7 days after surgery, there were significant differences between experimental groups' FDP tendons and control groups' FDP tendons after statistical analysis. There were statistical differences between the twogroups' tendons in adhesion area's measurement. In the morphologic observation of the two groups' tendons, the healing qualities of experimental groups' FDP tendons were much better than that of control groups' FDP tendons. Conclusions Early active mobilization after flexor tendon repair is feasible, it can improve the qualities of tendon's wound healing, decrease the formation of adhesion and increase the finger's function.