A biomechanical study of reattachment versus distal multistrand repair in distal division of the flexor digitorum profundus

Abstract

Distal division of the flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) within 10 mm of its insertion is commonly treated in the same manner as avulsion of the FDP, using the “button” technique or bone suture anchor fixation. Button and bone suture anchor fixation techniques have been associated with significant complications. Importantly, both lead to shortening of the FDP which may cause flexion contracture at the distal interphalangeal joint. This study compared the breaking strength of a multistrand distal suture with reattachment using the “button-on-the-nail” technique in a laboratory cadaver model of distal FDP division. The data showed that multistrand distal suture repair was at least as strong as reattachment and has the theoretical advantage of avoiding some of the acknowledged complications of reattachment techniques.