A mini-invasive tenolysis of the flexor tendons following hand fractures: case series

Introduction: The treatment of the flexor tendon adhesions following phalanx and metacarpal fractures, in closed or open injuries, is a great challenge for the hand surgeon. The outcomes are often poor, because of the severity of the lesion and the aggressiveness of the surgical procedure of the secondary tenolysis. Materials and methods: The authors describe the technical findings and the results of a new mini-invasive tenolysis in order to treat the adhesions in zone 1 and 2 of the fingers, following phalangeal and metacarpal fractures. With an atraumatic Allis or Duval surgical forceps, the flexor tendons are separately and gently tracted making a twisting movement on themselves until the adhesions were torn and the tendons appeared released. Results: The relevant outcomes achieved show this technique is very useful to treat tendon adhesions, without adding trauma and scare to the tendinous canal and surrounding soft tissues. © 2017, Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli.