Resistive testing in a patient with suspected zone I flexor tendon injury

Abstract

Lacerations are the major cause of flexor tendon injury in zone I and they are most commonly missed due to incomplete examinations. We report a case of lacerated flexor tendon injury in Zone I closed without explorations and which was referred to occupational therapy with the diagnosis of stiff hand. The patient received therapy for his stiff hand following which he could flex the distal interphalangeal joint (DIP) on blocking the proximal interphalangeal joint but failed to flex his DIP joint on making a composite fist. With resistive testing the patient failed to initiate resistance on flexion. The patient was referred back to the hand surgeon and subsquently diagnosed with a flexor tendon injury.