In Zone II flexor tendon injury of the hand (no man's land), the recommended primary repair technique involves:
- A Repair of FDS only, leaving FDP for secondary grafting
- B Delayed primary repair at 3 weeks after wound healing
- C Primary repair of both FDP and FDS with core sutures plus epitendinous suture and early controlled mobilization ✓
- D Immediate tendon grafting using palmaris longus
Correct answer: C. Primary repair of both FDP and FDS with core sutures plus epitendinous suture and early controlled mobilization
Explanation
Contemporary management of Zone II flexor tendon injuries mandates primary repair of both FDP and FDS within 12–24 hours using a strong core suture (4-strand or 6-strand technique such as modified Kessler or Becker) supplemented by an epitendinous suture to smooth the repair site and increase tensile strength. Early controlled mobilization (Kleinert passive flexion or Duran protocols) reduces adhesion formation. The old dictum of leaving FDS unrepaired is outdated; both tendons should be repaired when possible.
Reference: Maheshwari Essential Orthopaedics, 6th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.