Predictors of postoperative complications in extensor tendon repairs
2 Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Ankara, Türkiye
3 Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Ankara, Türkiye DOI : 10.5606/tftrd.2026.16177 Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the factors contributing to postoperative complications in patients undergoing extensor tendon repair, focusing on the relationship between injury zones and outcomes.
Patients and methods: This retrospective cohort study included 206 patients (178 males, 28 females; mean age: 33.7±13.1 years; range, 16 to 74 years) with extensor tendon injuries treated at a single center using standardized surgical and rehabilitation protocols between January 2013 and December 2016. Data on demographics, injury characteristics, and postoperative complications were analyzed. Logistic regression was employed to identify predictors of complications.
Results: The complication rate was 22.3%, with adhesions and extensor lag being the most common. Smoking (odds ratio = 0.161) and higher modified Hand Injury Severity Score values were identified as significant predictors of complications. Complication rates varied across injury zones, with zones 1 and 2 exhibiting the highest rates (26.1%), although the differences were not statistically significant.
Conclusion: Smoking and injury severity emerged as key predictors of complications, highlighting the need to address modifiable risk factors through targeted interventions such as smoking cessation programs and intensive follow-up for high-risk patients. The findings suggest no specific injury zone is consistently associated with poor outcomes, underscoring the need for further research into zone-specific surgical and rehabilitation strategies.
Keywords : Adhesions, complications, extensor, repair, smoking, tendon