Hand injuries may easily disrupt our dexterity by interfering with the sophisticated anatomy of flexor tendons. Swelling, pain and scarring inevitably accompany surgery and healing always takes time. Yet, the repaired tendons are unique as they require early mobilisation in order to recover smooth gliding, especially within the narrow tendon sheets. It takes true expertise to balance these two opposing constraints following tendon repair.

This talk will look into 5 key principles of successful flexor tendon surgery:

1) the interplay between complex tendon anatomy and physiology of healing
2) timely management
3) surgical skills required
4) postoperative rehabilitation
5) patient education

Only when all of the above factors are appreciated it becomes possible to overcome the pitfalls of primary and secondary tendon surgery and achieve good clinical outcomes. Failing just one, is likely to compromise it.

The handout for this session is available by clicking the handout icon on the bottom right-hand corner of the video player.
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    Ms Sonja Cerovac
    Consultant Plastic Surgeon, St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London

    Sonja is a consultant plastic surgeon at St George’s Hospital, a regional trauma centre in South London with a very busy hand unit. Her NHS work is dominated by the management of a large number of hand injuries. She is currently a lead clinician for the department of plastic Surgery.

    Sonja completed the South Thames plastic surgery rotation in 2007, having obtained a postgraduate research degree (master’s in surgical science) from the University of London in 1999 in the field of flexor tendon surgery.

    Her practice spans almost the entire spectrum of hand and wrist disorders, from microsurgical reconstruction of soft tissue to wrist arthroscopy and carpal surgery. Sonja developed a rather unique combination of plastic and orthopaedic skills over the years, facilitated by the fellowships at Windsor Hand Clinic and Wrightington Hospital in 2008. She covers general aspects of plastic surgery too, such as complex wound and scar management, skin cancer and aesthetic surgery.