Comparison of Early Active and Passive Post-operative Mobilization

Objectives: despite numerous studies, achieving the best outcome is challenging after flexor tendonrepairs in zone 2. this study was done to test the hypothesis that immediate postoperative activemobilization will achieve similar outcomes to passive mobilization.method: fifty fingers in 38 patients with flexor tendon repair in zone 2 were enrolled in this trial. thepatients were randomly assigned to two groups: early active mobilization and passive mobilization. theywere assessed eight weeks post-operatively. outcomes were defined using ‘strickland’ and ‘buck-gramcko’ criteria. the analysis was done according to intention-to-treat principles, using imputation formissing data.results: there were significant differences between the two groups (p < 0.001). according to stricklandcriteria, the results were 80% ‘excellent and good’ and 20% ‘fair’ and ‘poor’ in the early activemobilization group. in the passive mobilization control group results were: 40% ‘excellent and good’ and44% fair and 16% poor. mean of total active mobilization was significantly greater in the early activemobilization group.conclusion: the actively mobilized tendon underwent intrinsic healing without large gap formation.increased ultimate range of motion confirmed that early active mobilization can be used after strongrepair in zone two.