Effects of synergistic wrist motion on flexor tendon excursion in the hand

Gau Tyan Lin, Kai Nan An, Peter C. Amadio, William P. Cooney, Ronald L. Linscheid, Edmund Y.S. Chao

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Based on biomechanical analysis, a new concept utilizing synergistic wrist motion was tested for application in the hand splinting technique utilized following flexor tendon repair. A comparison of the tendon excursions in three different postoperative treatment regimens was performed on cadaveric forearms under simulated passive and isotonic muscle tensions. Using the conventional dorsal splint with rubber band, the excursions of the flexor profundus (FP) and flexor superficialis (FS) in zone II were 10.1 and 7.8 mm, respectively. The relative motion between these two tendons was 2.3 mm. Using the same splint modified with an additional bar across the palm, the tendon excursions increased to 15 mm and 13 mm for FP and FS, respectively. However, using the technique employing synergistic wrist motion, the corresponding tendon excursions were 19.8 and 15.2 mm and relative tendon glide was 4.6 mm. Although the synergistic wrist motion technique increased flexor tendon excursion in zones II and III, excursion was less in zone V than with the other two orthoses, suggesting that synergistic wrist motion improves tendon excursion without increasing tension in the flexor muscles.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1048
Number of pages1
JournalJournal of Biomechanics
Volume22
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - 1989
EventAbstracts of the XII Congress, International Society of Biomechanics - Los Angeles, CA, USA
Duration: Jun 26 1989Jun 30 1989

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biophysics
  • Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Rehabilitation

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