Epidemiology of acute flexor tendon injury and an analysis of outcomes – a study of 91,239 patients in England and Wales

The purpose of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of flexor tendon injuries and operative complications post-repair on a national scale. Using Hospital Episode Statistics data we identified a total of 91,239 patients in England who underwent a flexor tendon repair in the 20-year period between 1 April 1998 and 31 March 2018. Individuals were more likely to be male (74.6%) and of lower socioeconomic status. Median age was 31 years and patients had few medical comorbidities. After primary repair, 3.1% of patients required a revision repair within 90 days and 2.8% tenolysis within two years. Complications other than rupture, adhesions and wound site infection were rare. This study has shown that flexor tendon repair is primarily a procedure of working-age men, with rupture and adhesions the most common complication. The complication rate is less than previously reported in the literature. Level of evidence: III