Comparison of the Results of Delayed Repair of Flexor Pollicis Longus (FPL) Tendon with Tendon Transfer or with Tendon Graft.

Background: In Flexor Pollicis Longus (FPL) injuries, primary repair with end-to-end suture is the treatment of choice. In cases where primary repair is not possible, tendon transfer or tendon grafting is used, each of which has its strengths and weaknesses. We aimed to investigate the effectiveness of each of the above two methods in patients.

Methods: Patients with FPL injury who referred to Hazrat Fatemeh Hospital, Tehran, Iran late in 2020 to 2021, if primary tendon repair was not possible, were randomly repaired with tendon transfer or tendon graft. After the appropriate time, the splint was opened and physiotherapy was performed for the patients. Then, at least three months after the repair, the range of motion of the IP and MP joints of the patients thumb was measured and compared in two groups.

Results: Ten patients in the tendon transfer group and 10 patients in the tendon graft group were studied. In the secondary repair of FPL with tendon grafting, the range of motion of both IP and MP joints of the thumb was not significantly different compared to repair with tendon transfer.

Conclusion: The findings of this research confirm controversies in this field. In order to obtain more accurate results, it is suggested to carry out a research with a larger number of patients and with strict control over the surgical technique and post-operative care, as well as taking into account the morbidities caused by donor tendon removal and examining the overall satisfaction of the patients.