This prospective, randomized, controlled trial compared two methods of rehabilitating extensor tendon repairs in zones IV-VIII. Group A patients followed an early active mobilization regimen and Group B patients followed a dynamic splintage regimen. Data on 19 patients in Group A and 17 patients in Group B were collected at 4 weeks and at final follow-up (3 months median follow-up for both groups). Extension lag, flexion deficit and total active motion (TAM) were measured. At 4 weeks, patients in Group B had a better TAM (median 87%, range 56-102%) compared to patients in Group A (median 77%, range 52-97%). At final follow-up, there were no significant differences in the results of the two groups. There were no ruptures in either group.

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A prospective, randomized, double blind, placebo controlled trial was designed to investigate the effect of prophylactic flucloxacillin on the infection rate in clean incised hand injuries, which included trauma to skin, tendon and nerve in adults. Using strict exclusion criteria, a total of 170 patients were recruited into one of three trial groups; Group A - intravenous flucloxacillin on induction followed by an oral placebo; Group B - intravenous flucloxacillin on induction followed by an oral flucloxacillin course or Group C - oral placebo. Thirteen of the patients were subsequently withdrawn, leaving 92% available to complete the trial. Infection was diagnosed using clinical criteria. The infection rates in the three groups were Group A - 13%, Group B - 4% and Group C - 15%. Strictly, the results demonstrate no statistically significant difference in the infection rates between the groups.

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