Clinical and cost-effectiveness of flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) versus FDP and flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) repair for complete zone 2 flexor tendon injuries (FLARE): protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Flexor tendon injuries are common and lead to over 3200 admissions for specialist surgical repair annually in England and Wales. Surgery to repair complete division of both flexor tendons in zone 2 of the hand is technically challenging. There is variation in surgical repair techniques with no high-quality evidence to support decision-making. In particular, the decision to repair both tendons or just one is contested. Surgery is followed by specialist rehabilitation, which takes at least 12 weeks. The resulting hand function can impact the patient's income, life satisfaction, well-being, self-worth, and mental health. The FLARE trial aims to determine the clinical and cost-effectiveness of repairing the flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) alone (intervention) versus the rep

SUBMITTER: Reay E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12539191 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature