Tenolysis in the hand and wrist

Baek, Goo Hyun; Chung, Moon Sang; Cho, Kyu Hyoung

Abstract

Adhesion around tendons of the hand and wrist and subsequent limitation of motion, is one of the major complications after tendon surgery. In addition to the tendon surgery such as tendon repair or graft, infection, open reduction of fracutres, and burn scar contracture could be the casuses of tendon adhesion. Tenolysis and adequate postoperative rehabilitation program, has been proved to be effective in preventing of adhesion, whatever the cause may be, if its continuity is maintained. In order to evaluate the efficiency and problems of tenolysis, we reviewed 37 fingers of 31 patients who had been treated by tenolysis at Seoul National University Hospital from 1981 to 1991. There were 20 men and 11 women, and the average age was 28.2 years(9-45 years). The causes of adhesion were various; 24 fingers(64%) after tendon repair or tendon graft, 3 fingers(8%) after infection, 4 fingers(10%) after treatment of fracture, 4 fingers(10%) after burn scar contracture, and the other 2 fingers(5%) after curettage of enchondroma. Involved tendon were flexor tendon in 28 fingers and extensor in 9. The average duration of follow-up was 17 months(13 months to 4 years). Active motion of involved finger was started within 2 days after operation. The Total Active Motion(TAM) after operation was average 213°(100°-260°), compared to 123°(40°-180°) before operation. According to Strickland formula which was modified by us, the postoperative results were excellent in 17 fingers, good in 9 fingers, fair in 6 fingers and poor in 5 fingers. In 24 cases who had tenolysis after repair or graft, 19 case(79%) were rated as excellent or good. But in 7 cases whose causes of adhesion were infection or burn scar contracture, only 3 cases(42%) were rated as excellent or good. Compairing the results between younger(less than 30 years of age) and older(more than 30 years of age) group, the younger group showed excellent and good in 8496 and the older group in 41%, The complications were tendon rupture in 3 fingers and minor infection in 2 fingers, respectively. In summary, tenolysis was considered as a useful procedure to improve function of tendon bound down in scar tissue. And the results were better in younger age group(p < 0.05) and in previous tendon repair or graft(p < 0.05) group.