Could immediate treatment change the management method of digital tendon musculotendinous junction avulsion?: a systematic review

Abstract

Background:We conducted a systematic review of the literature to investigate the correlation between the interval to treatment and management of tendon avulsion ruptures in the musculotendinous junction (MTJ) of the forearm. Methods: A thorough literatures search for studies of tendon avulsion injuries at the forearm was conducted using PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Cochrane databases in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. In total, five case series and 15 case reports accounting for 87 injured tendons involving 60 patients were selected for the analysis. Results: Twenty-six patients had 44 tendon injuries associated with avulsion amputations, 31 patients had 38 tendon ruptures associated with closed avulsion injuries and three patients had five tendon ruptures associated with open avulsion injuries. Eighteen of the 49 (37%) patients were immediately treated for tendon ruptures and one of the 32 (3%) tendon ruptures treated via elective surgery was directly repaired. Additionally, 18 of the 30 (60%) tendons were directly repaired and 12 of the 30 (40%) tendons were transferred or side-to-side repaired in the immediately treated series. In contrast, one of the 28 (4%) tendon ruptures were directly repaired and 27 of the 28 (96%) tendons were transferred or side-to-side repaired in the electively treated series. Conclusion: In managing digital tendon avulsions at the MTJ, an immediate treatment could provide an opportunity to repair the ruptured tendon directly to the muscle.