520277 research-article2014

JHS0010.1177/1753193413520277The Journal of Hand SurgeryCavadas et al.

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Single-stage reconstruction of flexor tendons with vascularized tendon transfers

The Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume) 2015, Vol. 40E(3) 259­–268 © The Author(s) 2014 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/1753193413520277 jhs.sagepub.com

P. C. Cavadas, A. Pérez-García, A. Thione and C. Lorca-García Abstract The reconstruction of finger flexor tendons with vascularized flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) tendon grafts (flaps) based on the ulnar vessels as a single stage is not a popular technique. We reviewed 40 flexor tendon reconstructions (four flexor pollicis longus and 36 finger flexors) with vascularized FDS tendon grafts in 38 consecutive patients. The donor tendons were transferred based on the ulnar vessels as a single-stage procedure (37 pedicled flaps, three free flaps). Four patients required composite tendon and skin island transfer. Minimum follow-up was 12 months, and functional results were evaluated using a total active range of motion score. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to evaluate the factors that could be associated with the postoperative total active range of motion. The average postoperative total active range of motion (excluding the thumbs) was 178.05° (SD 50°). The total active range of motion was significantly lower for patients who were reconstructed with free flaps and for those who required composite tendon and skin island flap. Age, right or left hand, donor/motor tendon and pulley reconstruction had no linear effect on total active range of motion. Overall results were comparable with a published series on staged tendon grafting but with a lower complication rate. Vascularized pedicled tendon grafts/flaps are useful in the reconstruction of defects of finger flexor tendons in a single stage, although its role in the reconstructive armamentarium remains to be clearly established. Keywords Tendon injuries, tendon transfer, surgical flaps Date received: 4th August 2013; revised: 15th September 2013; accepted: 29th November 2013

Introduction Secondary reconstruction of the flexor tendon defects of the digits is a demanding procedure for the surgeon, therapist and patients as well. Despite often protracted and complex treatments, suboptimal functional results are not uncommon. Although single-stage tendon grafts may have some indications, staged reconstruction using a silicone spacer is the preferred technique in most cases (Strickland, 2005). Gliding of the tendons relative to the surrounding tissues is the sine-qua-non for finger flexion. Functional arcs of motion after tendon surgery depend on the paradox of inducing a dense, strong scar at the repair sites, while inhibiting the formation of this same dense scar tissue around the tendon. Immediate postoperative mobilization, through different protocols, is the most (if not the only) effective way of inhibiting dense scar and adhesion formation around the tendon. Attempts at avoiding tendon adhesions through chemical or physical means have

resulted in some success, although its use has not been widespread (Zhao et al., 2009; Riccio et al., 2010). Free gliding of the tendons within the digital canal depends on lubrication and relative lack of physical connections between the tendon and its sheath, whereas at the carpal tunnel and palm levels it depends on specialized lax connective tissue whose nomenclature varies in the literature. According to Guimberteau et al. (1993) the tendon and its surrounding lax connective tissue can be transferred as a composite vascularized gliding unit, based on branches of the ulnar vessels, for finger flexor single-stage reconstruction. Reconstructive Surgery, Hospital de Manises, Valencia, Spain Corresponding author: A. Pérez-García, Reconstructive Surgery, Clinica Cavadas, Hospital de Manises, Paseo Facultades 1, 46021 Valencia, Spain. Email: [email protected]

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The Journal of Hand Surgery (Eur) 40(3)

The technical complexity and the sacrifice of the distal ulnar artery has prevented wide acceptance of the technique. There has not been any reported series on this technique from other groups, to the best of our knowledge. The aim of the present article is to report on the experience of the authors in a series of reconstructions of chronic flexor tendon defects, with singlestage pedicled vascularized tendon grafts/flaps, with a minimum follow-up of 12 months, in order to assess its efficacy and reproducibility.

Patients and methods A total of 40 finger flexor tendons were reconstructed in 38 consecutive patients between 2002 and 2011 (Table 1). There were 37 males and one female, with ages between 18 and 65 years (mean 39 years). Two cases were secondary to bacterial tenosynovitis. The rest of the injuries were of traumatic origin. The technique used was similar to that described by Guimberteau et al. (1993), and is described here briefly with minor modifications.

Surgical technique After an Allen’s test showing a patent palmar arch, the distal third of the forearm, the wrist and the involved digit were incised in a zig-zag fashion. The remnants of the flexor tendons and the non-usable pulleys within the digit were excised down to the periosteal plane. A pedicled flap usually containing the ring finger FDS tendon (middle finger FDS as second choice) and the common carpal synovial sheath, in continuity with the gliding tissue around the tendon in the palm, was elevated based on branches off the ulnar vessels. The branch described by Guimberteau et al. (1993) immediately proximal to the flexor carpal retinaculum, or another constant more proximal branch was used. When present, the median artery can also be used. The vascularized gliding tissue around the tendon was carefully preserved (Figures 1 and 2). The tendons were harvested from distal forearm to the A1 pulley. The ulnar vessels were divided proximal to the selected branch and the distally based flap was transposed. When the flexor pollicis longus (FPL) was reconstructed, the vascularized ring FDS can be transposed after mobilization of the ulnar vessels without dividing them. The FDS tendon was anchored to the distal phalanx distally with a trans-osseus pullout suture and to a suitable motor at the carpal tunnel level using Pulvertaft weaving and moderate hyperflexion of the digit. The missing A2 and/or A4 pulleys were reconstructed with local tendon grafts around the proximal and/or middle

phallanges. When the native A2 pulley was intact, the tendon and vascularized paratenon fit well inside. Occasionally the native A4 pulley required minimal venting to accommodate the tendon-paratenon complex. In the cases when the tendon was transferred as a free flap, a segment of the ulnar artery was taken with the flap and interposed in the palmar arch, and the ulnar artery was re-anastomosed (Cavadas and Mir, 2006) All patients received oral vitamin A at a dose of 50.000 U/12 h for two months, based on its ability to increase the tensile strength of repaired tendons in experimental models (Greenwald et al., 1991), and the author’s unpublished clinical experience with shorter healing times. Passive range of motion exercises were performed for 2 weeks starting on postoperative day (POD) 1, with the wrist in neutral and metacarpophalangeal joint in 80° flexion. No dynamic splints or place-and-hold exercises were performed. From POD 15 active finger flexion exercises were progressively performed, with a dorsal wrist splint in neutral. Unrestricted use of the hand was allowed after 2 months. Our Institutional review board approved this study and informed consent was obtained from each patient.

Assessment Evaluation of the functional results was performed using the total active range of motion (TAM) score of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand for the digits (Kleinert and Verdan, 1983), and the AROM of the IP joint in FPL reconstructions, as a percentage of the 75° normal active range of motion (AROM) of the IP joint (Unglaub et al., 2006). Descriptive results are presented as mean values and percentages. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to evaluate the factors that could be associated with the postoperative TAM (which was the dependant variable). Six independent variables were selected: age of the patient, involvement of left or right hand, pulleys reconstruction, association with soft tissue reconstruction, reconstruction with pedicled or free flap and motor tendon flexor digitorum profundus (FDP/FDS). Gender was not analysed because there was only one woman in the study. Reconstructed FPL tendons were excluded from the analysis.

Results Forty digits in 38 patients underwent reconstruction with vascularized tendon transfer. There were 37 males and one female. There were 27 left-hand injuries and 11 right-hand injuries. The most frequently

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Gender, age

M 27

M 24

M 37

M 49

M 29

M 37

M 31

M 26

M 28

M 37

M 47

M 30

M 24

M 27

Case

Case 1

Case 2

Case 3

Case 4

Case 5

Case 6

Case 7

Case 8

Case 9

Case 10

Case 11

Case 12

Case 13

Case 14

7 years 9 months 7 years 5 months 7 years 5 months 7 years 2 months

8 years

9 years 4 months 9 years 1 months 9 years 1 months 8 years 11 months 8 years 2 months 8 years 1 months 8 years 1 months 8 years

9 years 5 months

Follow-up

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Flexor tendon and skin defect 5th left. Previous regional flap

Chronic avulsion FDP 4th finger left

FPL defect left

Flexor tendon defect 3rd right

Ruptured repair of FPL left

Flexor tendon defect 2nd left

Multidigital injury. Flexor tendon defect 5th finger left Multidigital zone II replant Flexor tendon defect 4th finger right Flexor tendon defect 2nd right

Ruptured repair flexors 5th finger left. Skin necrosis Chronic composite defect flexor tendons and skin 3rd finger left Neglected avulsion FDP 5th finger left Tendon rupture after suppurative synovitis 2nd finger right Flexor tendon defect 4th finger right

Injury

Tendon and skin. Pedicled. Ulnar artery Tendon. Pedicled. Ulnar artery Tendon. Pedicled. Ulnar artery Tendon. Free. Ulnar artery Tendon. Free. Ulnar artery Tendon. Free Ulnar artery Tendon and skin. Pedicled. Ulnar artery Tendon. Pedicled. Ulnar artery Tendon. Pedicled. Ulnar artery Tendon and skin. Pedicled. Ulnar artery Tendon. Pedicled. Ulnar artery Tendon. Pedicled. Ulnar artery Tendon. Pedicled. Ulnar artery

Tendon and skin. Pedicled. Ulnar artery

Tissue transferred. Remarks

FDS 4th

FDS 4th

FDS 4th

FDS 4th

FDS 4th

FDS 4th

FDS 4th. Contralateral FDS 4th

FDS 4th

FDS 4th

FDS 4th

FDS 4th

FDS 4th

FDS 4th

Donor tendon

Table 1.  Summary table of a total of 40 finger flexor tendons reconstructed in 38 patients between 2002 and 2011.

FDP 5th

FDP 4th

FPL

FDS 3rd

FPL

FDS 2nd

FDS 2nd

FDS 4th

FDP 5th

FDP 4th

FDS 2nd

FDP 5th

FDP 3rd

FDP 5th

Motor tendon

A2, A4

A2, A4

Oblique

A4

Oblique

A2

A2, A4

A2, A4

A2

A2, A4

None

A4

A2, A4

A4

Reconstructed pulleys

(Continued)

130° Fair 220° Good 100° Poor 145° Fair 110° Poor 65° Poor 90° Poor 205° Good 30° Active IP motion 190° Good 30° Active IP motion 260° Excellent 130° Fair

170° Fair

TAM

Cavadas et al. 261

M 18

M 56

M 65

M 55

M 37

M 25

M 53

F 39

M 34

M 48

Case 18

Case 19

Case 20

Case 21

Case 22

Case 23

Case 24

Case 25

Case 26

Case 27

M 54

Case 16

M 45

M 30

Case 15

Case 17

Gender, age

Case

Table 1. (Continued)

4 years 7 months 4 years 6 months 4 years 4 months 4 years 2 months 3 years 9 months

4 years 11 months 4 years 9 months 4 years 8 months

6 years 8 months 6 years 8 months 6 years 2 months 5 years 4 months 5 years 1 months

Follow-up

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Defect flexors 2nd finger right

Defect flexors 2nd finger right

Defect FPL left

Flexor tendons defect 5th finger right Flexor tendons defect 5th finger left

Flexor tendon defect 3rd finger left. replanted

Rupture flexors 4th finger left

Rupture flexors 4th finger left

Rupture FPL and Flexors of the 2nd finger left

Chronic avulsion FDP 4th left

Flexor defect right 3rd finger after suppurative synovitis Flexor tendon defect 5th finger left

Chronic avulsion FDP 4th left

Injury

Tendon. Pedicled. Ulnar artery Tendon. Pedicled. Ulnar artery Tendon. Pedicled. Ulnar artery Tendon. Pedicled. Ulnar artery Tendon. Pedicled. Ulnar artery

Tendon. Pedicled. Ulnar artery Tendon. Pedicled. Ulnar artery Tendon. Pedicled. Ulnar artery

Tendon. Pedicled. Ulnar artery Tendon. Pedicled. Ulnar artery Tendon. Pedicled. Median artery Tendon. Pedicled. Ulnar artery Tendons. Pedicled. Ulnar artery

Tissue transferred. Remarks

FDS 4th

FDS 4th

FDS 4th

FDS 4th

FDS 4th

FDS 5th

FDS 3rd

FDS 3rd

FDS 2nd and 4th

FDS 4th

FDS 4th

FDS 4th

FDS 4th

Donor tendon

FDS 2nd

FDP 2nd

FPL

FDP 5th

FDP 5th

FDS 3rd

FDS 4th

FDS 4th

FDP 2nd, FPL

FDP 4th

FDP 5th

FDS 3rd

FDP 4th

Motor tendon

A2

A2, A4

Oblique

A2

A4

A2

A2

A2

A4, oblique

None

A4

None

A4

Reconstructed pulleys

220° Good 195° Good 100° Poor 220° Good 40° active thumb IP motion 150° (Fair) 145° Fair 150° Fair 170° Fair. Superficialis finger 270° Excellent 230° Good 45° active IP motion 200° Good 170° Fair

TAM

262 The Journal of Hand Surgery (Eur) 40(3)

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M 60

M 32

M 43

M 33

M 25

M 59

M 41

M 54

M 35

M 52

M 31

Case 28

Case 29

Case 30

Case 31

Case 32

Case 33

Case 34

Case 35

Case 36

Case 37

Case 38

2 years 11 months 2 years 10 months 2 years 7 months 2 years 6 months 2 years 5 months 2 years 4 months 1 years 8 months 1 years 5 months 1 years

3 years

3 years 6 months

Follow-up

Defect flexors 2nd finger right

Rupture flexors 4th finger left

Defect flexors 2nd finger left

Rupture flexors 2nd finger left

Defect flexors 5th finger left

Defect flexors 2nd left

Defect flexors 2nd left

Defect flexors 4th finger right

Rupture flexors 3rd finger left

Rupture flexors 5th left

Defect flexors 2nd and 3rd fingers left

Injury

Tendon. Pedicled. Ulnar artery Tendon. Pedicled. Ulnar artery Tendon. Pedicled. Ulnar artery Tendon. Pedicled. Ulnar artery Tendon. Pedicled. Ulnar artery Tendon. Pedicled. Ulnar artery Tendon. Pedicled. Ulnar artery Tendon. Pedicled. Ulnar artery Tendon. Pedicled. Ulnar artery Tendon. Pedicled. Ulnar artery

Tendon. Pedicled. median artery.

Tissue transferred. Remarks

FDS 4th

FDS 3rd

FDS 4th

FDS 5th

FDS 4th

FDS 4th

FDS 4th

FDS 4th

FDS 4th

FDS 4th

FDS 2nd and 3rd

Donor tendon

FDS 2nd

FDS 4th

FDP 2nd

FDS 2nd

FDP 5th

FDS 2nd

FDS 2nd

FDP 4th

FDS 3rd

FDP 5th

FDP 2nd and 3rd

Motor tendon

A2, A4

A2, A4

A2, A4

A2, A4

A2

A2, A4

A2, A4

A2, A4

A2

A4

A2 2nd and 3rd

Reconstructed pulleys

FDP: flexor digitorum profundus; FDS: flexor digitorum superficialis; FPL: flexor pollicis longus; IP: interphalangeal; TAM: total active range of motion. TAM

Single-stage reconstruction of flexor tendons with vascularized tendon transfers.

The reconstruction of finger flexor tendons with vascularized flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) tendon grafts (flaps) based on the ulnar vessels as...
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