Hand Tendon Injury, Ultrasound Evaluation
Conditions
Brief summary
To evaluate the role of musculoskeletal ultrasound in the early postoperative period following hand tendon repair. By assessing its diagnostic accuracy and clinical utility, the study seeks to determine whether routine MSK-US surveillance can contribute to earlier detection of complications, guide timely management decisions, and ultimately improve functional outcomes in patients undergoing hand tendon surgery.
Detailed description
Hand tendon injuries are among the most frequent traumatic lesions of the upper extremity, representing a major cause of emergency and elective surgeries. Despite advances in surgical techniques, these injuries remain challenging due to the risk of postoperative complications such as rupture, adhesions, infection, and impaired tendon gliding. Early recognition of such complications is essential to prevent long-term stiffness, disability, and functional loss . Postoperative assessment traditionally relies on clinical examination, but this may be limited by pain, swelling, dressings, or poor patient compliance, and subtle complications may not be evident until significant dysfunction develops. Hence, there is a need for a reliable, non-invasive modality to aid early detection and guide timely intervention. Musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSK-US) has become an important tool for evaluating tendon injuries. It offers high spatial resolution, dynamic real-time imaging, absence of ionizing radiation, cost-effectiveness, and broad availability. In postoperative settings, MSK-US provides valuable information on tendon continuity, vascularity, surrounding soft tissue changes, and the presence of adhesions or fluid collections. Its ability to assess tendon motion dynamically further enhances its role in monitoring functional recovery. Evidence indicates that MSK-US can detect complications such as rerupture, adhesions, or infection earlier than clinical examination, supporting its role as an adjunctive modality in follow-up. However, standardized use of ultrasound in routine postoperative surveillance of repaired hand tendons has not yet been established.
Interventions
DEVICEMSK US
Focus on early postoperative (first 6-12 weeks) assessment after post-traumatic tendon repair. Utilization of high-frequency dynamic ultrasound rather than static imaging or delayed MRI. Standardized scanning protocol and blinded interpretation to ensure diagnostic validity. Designed to evaluate the diagnostic utility of MSK-US compared with conventional clinical follow-up methods.
Sponsors
Assiut University
Study design
Observational model
OTHER
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
adults with primary hand tendon repair and able to return for US follow-up. \-
Exclusion criteria
Patients with collagen disease, congenital hand deformities, bone fractures, revision/staged repairs, active infection/poor wound access, or can't attend follow-up. \-
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic accuracy of musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSK-US) for detecting clinically significant postoperative complications | Up to 12 weeks after surgical repair | The accuracy of musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSK-US) in identifying clinically significant postoperative complications following surgical repair of posttraumatic hand tendons. Complications include rerupture requiring reintervention, deep infection, symptomatic adhesion requiring surgical release, and large seroma or hematoma requiring drainage or evacuation. Diagnostic accuracy will be determined by comparing MSK-US findings to a composite clinical reference standard consisting of surgical findings, clinical assessment, and microbiological/imaging confirmation. Accuracy measures will include sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and likelihood ratios. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Time from surgery to detection of postoperative complication by musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSK-US) versus clinical assessment | Up to 12 weeks after surgical repair |
Countries
Egypt
Contacts
Primary ContactAbdelazeem Salah Rajeh
Outcome results
None listed