Abstract
Delayed tendon injuries of the hand often require auto tendon grafts, the success
depending largely on tendon type, its own synovial cover or provided by tendon bed,
and tendon bed vascularity. Tendon graft healing has been extensively studied, where
tendon does increase its vascular response to trauma, attrition, or degeneration.
Initially surviving through synovial fluid imbibition, followed by vascular invasion
from surrounding tissues. Tendon grafts without synovial covering or in hypovascular/scarred
beds have increased vascular response in the form of flimsy tissue which vascularises
tendon grafts but later, they become adhesions, restricting tendon movement and final
functional finger results. To overcome this hypovascular state, tendon grafts are
substituted with vascularized tendon grafts. We present two cases of vascularized
palmaris tendon graft in delayed tendon injuries of hand having hypovascular tendon
beds, along with operative technique and results along discussion and conclusion.
Keywords
vascularized tendon graft - vascularized palmaris tendon graft
