Ms Michelle Razo is a co-author on newly published clinical research appearing in Injury, a leading peer-reviewed journal in trauma and orthopaedic surgery. The paper, “Outcomes of outpatient hand extensor tendon injury repairs in Northern Ireland’s regional plastic surgery service”, presents clinical evidence on functional outcomes following surgical repair of extensor tendons in the hand — injuries that, despite their frequency, remain a significant challenge for Hand Surgeons, Hand Therapists and patients.

About the research

Acute extensor tendon injuries of the hand are commonly managed by Plastic Surgeons and require timely repair to optimise outcomes. This study evaluates the functional results, complications and patient-reported outcomes of acute extensor tendon repairs performed in an outpatient setting using the Wide Awake Local Anaesthetic No Tourniquet (WALANT) technique within Northern Ireland’s Regional Plastic Surgery Service.

Key findings

The published findings cover several important outcome areas:

  • Patients demonstrated meaningful restoration of range of motion and hand function following outpatient surgical repair — a critical consideration for those whose work or daily activities depend on fine hand dexterity
  • Rates of complications including tendon rupture and persistent stiffness were quantified, providing useful benchmarks for clinicians and patients when planning treatment and setting realistic expectations
  • Patient-reported outcome measures (PROM) offer real-world insight into perceived recovery, an increasingly valued metric in modern clinical research

Significance

Extensor tendon injuries are among the more commonly encountered hand injuries in clinical practice, yet the evidence base for outpatient management using WALANT remains an active area of development. This research adds to that evidence base and has direct relevance to how these injuries are assessed, repaired and rehabilitated.

The paper is published in Injury: International Journal of the Care of the Injured and is available via the journal’s website.