Michelle Razo co-authored a clinical research article on outpatient hand extensor tendon injury repairs. It was published in Injury, a leading peer-reviewed Trauma and orthopaedic Journal. The study evaluated functional outcomes, complications and patient-reported results following WALANT surgery in Northern Ireland’s Regional Plastic Surgery Service. Key findings highlight meaningful restoration of hand function, quantified complications and real-world patient recovery insights.

Outcomes of Outpatient Hand Extensor Tendon Injury Repairs in a Regional Plastic Surgery Service

I am pleased to share the publication of our latest clinical research in Injury, a leading peer-reviewed journal in Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery. The article, “Outcomes of outpatient hand extensor tendon injury repairs in Northern Ireland's regional plastic surgery service”, presents important evidence on functional results following surgical repair of extensor tendons in the hand. Injuries that, despite their frequency in clinical practice, remain a challenge for Hand Surgeons, Hand Therapists and patients alike.

Abstract Background

Acute extensor tendon injuries of the hand, commonly managed by plastic surgeons, require timely repair to optimize outcomes. This study evaluates the functional results, complications and patient-reported outcomes of acute extensor tendon repairs performed in an outpatient setting using the Wide Awake Local Anaesthetic No Tourniquet (WALANT) technique in Northern Ireland.

Key Findings

While the full text details the complete dataset and statistical analyses, the published abstract highlights several outcome domains:

  • Patients demonstrated meaningful restoration of range of motion and hand function following outpatient surgical repair. This is crucial for patients whose work or daily activities depend on fine hand dexterity.
  • Complications such as tendon rupture or persistent stiffness were quantified, providing valuable benchmarks for clinicians and patients when planning treatment and managing expectations.
  • Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) collected in our cohort offer real-world insight into perceived recovery, an increasingly important metric in modern clinical research.

The full article can be found at Injury Journal.