FREQUENCY, DISTRIBUTION AND TREATMENT OF ACUTE FLEXOR TENDON INJURIES IN ZONE V OF HAND

Abstract

Background: Flexor tendons injuries are common emergency procedures The objectives of this study were to determine the frequency, distribution and results of treatment of acute flexor tendon injuries in zone V of hand in our population. Material and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional was conducted in the Department of Orthopedic, Gomal Medical College, D.I.Khan, Pakistan from January 2015 to December 2017. Sample size was 30, selected through consecutive technique. Patients having flexor tendon injuries in zone v, admitted through emergency department were included in this study. Demographic variable were sex and age-groups. The research variable were tendon involved, nerves involved, artery involved, mechanism of injury, wound size, duration of injury, season, type of injury, hand involved and results of treatment. All variables, being categorical were analyzed by frequency and percentages using SPSS version 16.0. Results: Out of 30 patients, 22(73.33%) were male. Twenty four (80%) patients were between 21 to 40 years age. Mechanism of injury was glass in 16(53.33%) cases, knife in 10(33.33%) cases. Twenty (66.66%) cases presented in summer. Flexor digitorum sublimus was injured in 21(70.0%), FCR in 11(36.66%), FPL in 8(26.66), FDP in 6(20.0%) and FCU in 4(13.33%) cases. Median nerve was involved in nine (30%) cases. Radial artery was involved in eight (26.66%) cases. Wound size was 2 cm in 24(80%) cases. Sixteen (53.33 %) cases came with self-inflicted injuries. Twenty (66.66 %) cases came after 12 hours. Twenty five (83.33%) patients achieved good to excellent results. Conclusion: Flexor digitorus sublimus was the most common tendon injured in non-dominant hand, especially in young males. Median nerve and radial artery were commonly injured structures mostly with glass. Majority patients presented more than 12 hours after injury, having wound size of 2cm. Mostly the injuries were self-inflicted and occurred in summer season.