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Despite advances in hand therapy and surgery, functional deficits persist after flexor tendon repair especially in zone I–III. This suggests that methods applied may be insufficient. Electromyographic (EMG) biofeedback may provide an effective tendon gliding through visual and auditory feedback. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of EMG biofeedback training applied in addition to early passive motion protocol on functional status in zone I–III flexor tendon injuries. Patients were randomly assigned into two groups, each consisted of 11 patients. In addition to early passive motion method, EMG biofeedback training was applied in the first group. The second group was followed only with early passive motion protocol. Joint range of motion (ROM), Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (MHQ) and grip strength were evaluated. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of the ROM, MHQ scores and grip strength (p ≥.087). However, there were clinically important differences in the results of the 12th week ROM (effect size = 0.70), 24th week activity of daily living (ADL) score in MHQ (effect size = 0.68), 12th week gross, tip pinch and lateral grip strength (effect sizes = 0.59, 0.52, 0.81, respectively) and 24th week gross, tip pinch and lateral grip strength (effect sizes = 0.69, 0.73, 0.69, respectively) between the two groups. EMG biofeedback training was clinically but not statistically superior to early passive motion method in terms of the effect on functional status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this prospective, randomised, controlled trail was to compare two methods of rehabilitating extensor tendon repairs in zones V-VII. Patients who incurred simple and complete lacerations of their extensor tendons in zones V-VII enrolled into the study and underwent either static splinting ( n = 25) or dynamic splinting ( n = 27) after primary acute repair of tendons. Extension lag, flexion deficit, total active motion (TAM), grip strength, and functional status of upper extremities were measured. TAM was improved in the dynamic group when compared with the static group in the injured digits at 4 weeks ( p = 0.001), at 12 weeks ( p = 0.05), and at 6 months ( p = 0.001). Grip strength outcomes demonstrated improved grip force for the dynamic group when compared with the static group at 12 weeks ( p = 0.001). There were no ruptures in either group. Also, a better functional level was found in the dynamic splinting group at 6 months ( p = 0.001). The findings of the current study suggest that dynamic splinting of complex lacerations of the extensor tendons in zones V-VII provides improved functional outcomes at 4 and 12 weeks and 6 months when compared with static splinting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]