Outcomes of outpatient hand extensor tendon injury repairs in Northern Ireland's regional plastic surgery service.
Outpatient Wide Awake Local Anaesthetic No Tourniquet extensor tendon repair had an extremely low re-rupture rate.
Outcomes of outpatient hand extensor tendon injury repairs in Northern Ireland's regional plastic surgery service.
Acute extensor tendon injuries of the hand, commonly managed by plastic surgeons, require timely repair to optimize outcomes.
This study evaluates the functional results, complications, and patient-reported outcomes of acute extensor tendon repairs performed in an outpatient setting using the Wide Awake Local Anaesthetic No Tourniquet (Wide Awake Local Anaesthetic No Tourniquet) technique in Northern Ireland.
A retrospective service evaluation analyzed 222 patients undergoing extensor tendon repair between 2018 and 2023.
reinjury after repair is exceedingly rare with this technique
Mean age was 41 years, with 72.5 % males and 54.1 % non-dominant hand injuries.
Mechanisms included lacerations (64 %), crush injuries (22 %), and avulsions (14 %).
Total Active Motion was comparable across injury zones (Verdan classification), though distal zones (e.g., Zone 1) showed ∼30° lower Total Active Motion.
PRWHE scores (mean: 8.2/50) indicated minimal pain/functional disability.
Outpatient extensor tendon repair under Wide Awake Local Anaesthetic No Tourniquet is safe and effective, with low complication rates and favorable functional outcomes.
Timely repair (<3 days), meticulous technique, and Controlled Active Motion rehabilitation contributed to success, supporting cost-effective management outside main operating theatres.
Proximal injuries and rehabilitation protocols warrant further optimization. This study addresses a regional literature gap, advocating for prospective research to refine surgical and therapeutic strategies. THERAPEUTIC LEVEL: IV.