Hand function 7 – 10 years after surgical repair of flexor tendon ruptures.

Flexor tendon injury is one of the most common hand injuries and usually happens as an accident with a sharp object. Surgical repair is necessary to allow the patient to flex their fingers again. A dynamic splint is placed after the procedure to prevent adhesions and re-rupture at the same time. The longterm outcome of flexor tendon injury is still unclear. This study could be considered as a follow-up of Dr. M.W. Stenekes “Cerebral Reorganization and Motor Imagery after Flexor Tendon Repair, 2009” The same patients (n=28) will be used for a last measurement of hand function consisting of: range of motion, grip- and pinchstrength, MHQ, 9-hole Peg Test, VAS and response time test. The results will allow us to determine the overall hand function of flexor tendon patients. The patients hand function with will also be compared with normative data based on literature. The testing will take place in the University Medical Center Groningen in The Netherlands. Knowing more about the long term outcome could provide doctors with better patient education.

To determine the outcome of hand function of (ex)patients with flexor tendon rupture 7 – 10 years after surgical repair. We expect that subjects with flexor tendon injury have significantly worse hand function than healthy subjects.

One moment of testing (follow-up of a study performed 7 years ago).

Hand function test consisting of:

1. Range of motion;

2. Grip- and pinchstrength;

3. Michigan Hand Questionnaire;

4. 9-hole Peg test;

5. Visual Analogue Scale;

6. Response Time.