"H-shaped splints" for digital flexor repair

The aim of this paper was to present an H-shaped splint for digital flexor tendon repair designed to enhance the biomechanical properties of the repair as related to resistance to both gap formation and repair failure. Comparing (in an ex vivo study) the tensionmetric properties (gap-formation and failure strengths) of 12 FDP tendons repaired with the described splint and the modified Kessler repair, we found that the former provided a significantly stronger repair than the latter in vitro. A statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) was found between the two techniques. The "H-splint" repair was found to increase the load at which a visible (1 mm) gap formed by 157.36% when compared with the modified Kessler suture. The mean gap strength of the "H-splint" repair was 13.730 N, while that of the modified Kessler was 5.335 N. The failure loads (ultimate strength) of the "H-splint" repair were observed to be 332.29% higher than those of the modified Kessler. The mean breaking load of the "H-splint" repair was 62.760 N, while that of the modified Kessler was 14.518 N.