Which statement best describes the management of tendon lacerations?

Which statement best describes the management of tendon lacerations?

• A. Open lac = operative repair
• B. Defer flexion and thumb tendon injuries
• C. Figure 8 knot
• D. Closed lac = splint ± operative repair

Answer: (A)

When a tendon is lacerated and the wound is open, definitive repair in the operating room is necessary to restore continuity and function. The ends of a damaged tendon retract and the tissue is often contaminated, so simply splinting or delaying treatment risks poor gliding, adhesions, and loss of motion. In surgery, the damaged ends are cleaned, freshened, and reapproximated with a sturdy repair that combines a core suture for strength with a peripheral stitch to smooth the surface, then the hand is immobilized in a position that minimizes tension on the repair and later begins controlled mobilization to prevent stiffness. The other approaches don’t capture the essential management principle, which hinges on repairing exposed tendon promptly to optimize functional recovery.

When a tendon is lacerated and the wound is open, definitive repair in the operating room is necessary to restore continuity and function. The ends of a damaged tendon retract and the tissue is often contaminated, so simply splinting or delaying treatment risks poor gliding, adhesions, and loss of motion. In surgery, the damaged ends are cleaned, freshened, and reapproximated with a sturdy repair that combines a core suture for strength with a peripheral stitch to smooth the surface, then the hand is immobilized in a position that minimizes tension on the repair and later begins controlled mobilization to prevent stiffness. The other approaches don’t capture the essential management principle, which hinges on repairing exposed tendon promptly to optimize functional recovery.