Validity of ultrasonography in surgically treated zone 2 flexor tendon injuries

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the validity of ultrasonography (USG) with surgical confirmation in surgically treated zone 2 flexor tendon injuries. Methods: Between 2003 and 2008, zone 2 flexor tendon repairs of 30 patients were evaluated with real-time USG when there was a loss of motion and prediagnosis of rupture or adherence in follow-up. The mean duration between injury and USG evaluation was 81.5 days (range 10-240 days). USG demonstrated rupture in 15 patients, adherence in 14 patients, and tenosynovitis in one patient. After clinical examination, surgery was performed in 27 of the patients. Results: Fifteen patients with diagnosis of rupture in USG were operated, and diagnosis was confirmed in 14 patients. Eleven patients in the adherence group were also surgically treated. Eight of them received only tenolysis, and three were repaired with tendon grafts—one for rerupture and two for insufficiency after tenolysis. One patient who was diagnosed with tenosynovitis also had a re-ruptured tendon. Therefore, USG resulted in one false finding out of the 15 patients in the rupture group, one false finding out of 11 patients in the adherence group, and one false finding in tenosynovitis group. In total, validity of USG was confirmed in 24 of 27 patients. Conclusion: USG is a dependable diagnostic aid in operated zone 2 flexor tendon injuries when there is uncertainty of rupture or adherence.