Introduction: The results of patients with primary zone II flexor tendon repairs rehabilitated using a traditional forearm-based splint were audited and compared with those who were managed in the Manchester short splint. Method: The short splint was fabricated to permit maximal wrist flexion and up to 45 of wrist extension with a block to 30 of metacarpophalangeal joint extension. A rehabilitation regimen consisting of early combined passive flexion exercises and active motion was employed. In 2011, 62 patients (76 digits) with a mean age of 34 years (range 14-58) were rehabilitated using the forearm-based splint (group A). In 2012, 40 patients (45 digits) with a mean age of 31 years (range 15-71) were rehabilitated using the Manchester short splint (group B). Results: Group B had significantly less flexion contracture at their proximal interphalangeal joints than group A at 6 weeks (median 15 versus 28 ; p ¼ 0.003) and 12 weeks (median 6 versus 18 ; p ¼ 0.024) postoperatively. At the final review, group B had a significantly greater arc of flexion at their distal interphalangeal joints (median 59 versus 30 ; p < 0.001) and a greater proportion of patients with excellent/good Strickland's grades. There were three (3.9%) ruptures in group A and two (4.4%) ruptures in group B (p > 0.999). Conclusion: The use of a shorter splint would appear to enhance the outcomes whilst preserving repair integrity.

Introduction: Back pain is a common occurrence in persons with a lower extremity amputation, and can cause a chronic disability. Early physical therapy interventions of gait training with prosthesis could prevent amputees from becoming disabled by chronic back pain. Free swing gait training is sometimes utilized in physical therapy with transfemoral amputees learning to use prosthesis. However, there is a lack of evidence for the benefits of free swing gait training on decreasing back pain.