New concepts in managing the long tendons of the thumb after primary repair.

This article discusses recent advances in the rehabilitation of injuries of the long flexor and extensor tendons of the thumb, including our own research on this subject. In this field of tendon surgery, we favour a policy of early mobilisation after robust tendon repairs to avoid tethering of the long tendons of the thumb during the early post-operative period. Maintenance of full and rapid movement of the interphalangeal joint of the thumb is vital to the full function of the thumb and is more likely to retained using early mobilisation of tendon repairs.