Flexor tendon repair in the neonate.

Primary or delayed primary repair of flexor tendon lacerations in the digital sheath has become the accepted practice among surgeons expert in the treatment of hand injuries. The youngest patient reported in the literature we reviewed was 3 months old. We report a case of flexor tendon laceration at the time of delivery by emergency cesarean section. Delayed primary repair was carried out ten days later. Five months following surgery, functional results were judged to be good to excellent. The operating microscope is a valuable adjunct for tendon repair in the neonate. The procedure should be done by an experienced hand surgeon on an elective basis in a medical center where operating room personnel and anesthesia staff are familiar with neonatal patients. Under such conditions an excellent result can be obtained with a single definitive procedure.