Rehabilitation of tendon repairs remains the most challenging diagnosis that hand therapists treat with an abundance of different protocols and orthoses to choose from. Many clinics default to protocols that were established in the 1970’s and 1980’s and have not been updated to what the research now dictates is a better way to treat this population. This course is designed around the most recent evidence in surgical intervention and rehabilitation of flexor and extensor tendons.

During the morning session we will cover flexor tendon anatomy and physiology, history and current evidence of flexor tendon repairs and rehabilitation. In addition, emerging evidence in flexor tendon repairs including “Proof-of-Concept” will be discussed. During a second video session, participants will have the opportunity to learn how to fabricate a Relative Motion Flexion Splint (RMFS) and discuss tips for dorsal blocking orthoses. In the afternoon session, we will cover extensor tendon anatomy and physiology, history and current evidence of extensor tendon repairs and rehabilitation. A video session for fabrication of a resting hand orthosis for extensor tendon repairs as well as a Relative Motion Extension Splint (RMES) will be viewed. Understanding the various approaches to tendon repair rehabilitation is complex and challenging. This course will present the most recent and highest levels of evidence, including clinical pearls for digital nerve involvement, PIPJ contractures, scar management, and cortical re-patterning. Following this one day course, learners will confidently rehabilitate the most challenging of tendon repairs. The educational level of this course is intermediate.

There are no financial or non-finical disclosures for this course.