Short-Term Postoperative Complications in Flexor Tendon Repair: A Subcategory Analysis by Surgical Specialty

Abstract

Introduction: We aimed to investigate and compare the 30-day postsurgical complication rates and total operative times for hand or wrist flexor tendon injury repair procedures. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort analysis of the American College of Surgeon National Quality Improvement Program database between 2015 and 2019. Patients were included in our study if they were 18 years or older and underwent surgical repair of a wrist or hand flexor tendon by a plastic surgeon, general surgeon, or orthopedic surgeon. Primary endpoint of the study was 30-day postsurgical complications. Secondary endpoint included subcategory analysis of 30-day postsurgical complications. Another variable of interest included total operative time. Results: There were 2614 surgeries performed for wrist or hand flexor tendon injury repair during the 5-year period. Orthopedic surgeons performed the majority of the operations (1548, 59.2%). Repair or advancement of the flexor tendon zone 2 without grafts (1284, 49.1%) were the most common surgeries performed. Overall surgical site complication rate was 2%, with no significant associations between the complication and the surgical specialty performing the operation. A significant difference in total operative time between surgical specialties was only found in single flexor tendon repairs ( P < .001). Conclusions: Surgical repair for hand and wrist flexor tendon injury is a safe surgical procedure with a low short-term postoperative complication rate. Despite variations in training, complications remain similar between specialties for flexor tendon repairs.