Operative repair or conservative treatment for partial laceration of the extensor tendons of the hand

March 1, 2000

April 11, 2001

Martin Smith, Specialist Registrar (Manchester Royal Infirmary)

Bruce Martin, Manchester Royal Infirmary

In [patients with partial extensor tendon lacerations] does [surgical repair or conservative mangement] result in [the quickest and fullest recovery]?

A 24 year old man is brought into the Emergency departmment having sustained a laceration over the dorsal aspect of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the left index fingger. You explore the wound and find that there is a 50% laceration of the extensor tendon. You wonder whether this requires repair.

Medline 1966-03/00 using the OVID interface.

[({exp tendon injuries OR tendon injuries.mp OR exp tendons OR extensor tendon$.mp OR partial tendon laceration$.mp} AND {extensor$ OR dorsal$}) AND {exp casts, surgical OR exp splints OR splint$.mp OR exp surgical procedures, operative OR exp suture techniques OR conservative treatment$.mp OR surgical repair$.mp OR tendon repair.mp}] AND maximally sensitive RCT filter LIMIT to human AND english.

141 papers found of which none were relevant.

There is no direct evidence that can assist in answering this question. The trials of partial tendon repair that have been reported all involved flexor tendons. These results cannot be extrapolated to the extensor tendon.

Local advice should be followed.