Stronger flexor tendon repairs facilitate early active motion therapy protocols. Core
sutures using looped suture material provide 1 ½ to twice the strength of Kessler′s
technique (with four strand and six strand Tsuge technique respectively). The technique
is well-described and uses preformed looped sutures (supramid). This is not available
in many countries and we describe a technique whereby looped sutures can be introduced
in flexor tendon repair by the use of 23 G hypodermic needle and conventional 4.0
or 5.0 sutures. This is an alternative when the custom made preformed sutures are
not available. This can be practiced in zone 3 to zone 5 repairs. Technical difficulties
limit its use in zone 2 repairs.
KEY WORDS
Flexor tendon repair - modified looped suture
