Tension-reduced early mobilization for ruptured extensor tendon in the rheumatoid hand

Treatment involved 86 fingers of 40 patients (35 females and 5 males) treated after 1987 using tension-reduced early mobilization for ruptured extensor tendons in the rheumatoid hand. Our treatment consisted of synovectomy, capitulum ulnae treatment, tendon transfer, and tension-reduced early mobilization. Fingers on the ulnar side through the radial side were overlapped and taped so that suture site tension was kept low, and tension-reduced early mobilization that allow active finger movement was begun soon after surgery. Evaluation was excellent An 27 hands (68%), good in 12 hands (30%), and fair in 1 hand (2.5%). No cases occurred in which limited flexion occurred postoperatively. In wrist joint ROM, limited supination was significantly improved.