The impact of different early rehabilitation initiation times on functional recovery after flexor tendon repair.
Rehabilitation started within 48 hours is linked to more excellent-to-good outcomes after tendon repair
The impact of different early rehabilitation initiation times on functional recovery after flexor tendon repair.
This study aimed to evaluate the impact of varying rehabilitation initiation times on multidimensional functional outcomes following primary flexor tendon repair, aiming to define the optimal postoperative rehabilitation window.
This single-center retrospective cohort study included 120 patients who underwent primary flexor tendon repair between June 2023 and June 2025.
Baseline characteristics were comparable across the 3 groups (P > .05).
At 12 weeks, group A achieved significantly higher total active motion (185.3 ± 22.5°) than groups B (172.6 ± 25.1°) and C (160.8 ± 28.6°; P < .001).
Rerupture rates did not differ significantly (P = .350), indicating that early rehabilitation did not increase rupture risk.
Group A experienced the lowest postoperative pain at all time points (all P < .001) and the lowest incidence of stiffness (P = .046).
Integrating these findings with existing evidence, rehabilitation initiation within 48 hours appears to be the most favorable postoperative rehabilitation window in this cohort.