We have compared a simple four-strand flexor tendon repair, the single cross-stitch locked repair using a double-stranded suture (dsSCL) against two other four-strand repairs: the Pennington modified Kessler with double-stranded suture (dsPMK); and the cruciate cross-stitch locked repair with single-stranded suture (Modified Sandow). Thirty fresh frozen cadaveric flexor digitorum profundus tendons were transected and repaired with one of the core repair techniques using identical suture material and reinforced with identical peripheral sutures. Bulking at the repair site and tendon-suture junctions was measured. The tendons were subjected to linear load-to-failure testing. Results showed no significant difference in ultimate tensile strength between the Modified Sandow (36.8 N) and dsSCL (32.6 N) whereas the dsPMK was significantly weaker (26.8 N). There were no significant differences in 2 mm gap force, stiffness or bulk between the three repairs. We concluded that the simpler dsSCL repair is comparable to the modified Sandow repair in tensile strength, stiffness and bulking.
Chronic embedded-ring injury is a rare and uncommon presentation. This is also known as "chronic ring erosion" or "embedded ring syndrome" in the literature. Injury of this type has been associated with psychological impairment causing neglect of such injury. We herein describe a case of double embedded rings on the right ring finger in a 30-year-old healthy construction worker. A primary amputation at the metacarpophalangeal joint was performed in view of the chronicity of his condition and associated neurovascular damage. Early removal of ring is of paramount importance in any ring-associated injuries. However, fear of losing a digit has been the reason of delay in seeking medical treatment, which in turn ended up in dire consequences.