Abstract
A prospective review was carried out to evaluate the outcome of surgically repaired open central slip (zone III) injuries which were treated with 3 weeks of proximal interphalangeal joint immobilization within a cylinder splint and then with 3 weeks of controlled mobilization within a Capener coil splint. Thirty-one fingers in 27 patients were assessed by the same independent therapist. All fingers achieved an excellent or good recovery with a mean proximal interphalangeal joint flexion of 94° (range 70–110°) and a mean distal interphalangeal joint flexion of 57° (range 30–81°). Extension deficits of the proximal interphalangeal joint were noted in five fingers (mean 6°, range 3–15°). The results show that a combination of immobilization and controlled mobilization is an effective rehabilitation regime for surgically repaired open central slip injuries.
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