Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41498969›Full record

Trial reportArchives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery2026

Active versus passive rehabilitation after flexor tendon repair: clinical outcomes and shear wave elastography monitoring in a randomized pilot study.

Merve Demirci, Fatma Hazal Temiz Erguden, Yavuz Sahbat, Onur Bugdayci, Ozgur Baysal, Canan Sanal

Erratum issued Registry-linked trialAbstract readRandomized Controlled TrialComparative Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. It is linked to trial NCT05598918 (Comparison of Early Passive and Active Mobilization Protocols in Flexor Tendon Repair Rehabilitation of the Hand, and Investigation of Factors Affecting the Results), which is not on this map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT05598918 nacompletednot on this map

Comparison of Early Passive and Active Mobilization Protocols in Flexor Tendon Repair Rehabilitation of the Hand, and Investigation of Factors Affecting the Results

TypeinterventionalSponsorMarmara UniversityRan2022 to 2022Enrolled40ConditionsTendon InjuriesArmsearly active mobilization, early passive mobilization
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Observational
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Merve DemirciMarmara University Pendik Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. mervedmrc__@hotmail.com.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7327-1130
Fatma Hazal Temiz ErgudenMarmara University Pendik Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4175-2634
Yavuz SahbatMarmara University Pendik Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9963-5334
Onur BugdayciMarmara University Pendik Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6011-2720
Ozgur BaysalMarmara University Pendik Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5150-8857
Canan SanalMarmara University Pendik Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0016-5564

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionFlexor tendon injuries of the hand often result in significant functional impairment. Rehabilitation protocols after surgical repair are critical for optimizing outcomes, yet the comparative effects of active versus passive rehabilitation remain debated. Shear wave elastography (SWE) offers an objective imaging method to monitor tendon stiffness, but its role in hand tendon recovery is not well established. This study aimed to compare functional outcomes between active and passive rehabilitation protocols, while exploring the potential utility of SWE in monitoring tendon healing. MATERIALS AND

methodsIn this randomized controlled pilot trial, patients undergoing flexor tendon repair were assigned to either active (AR) or passive (PR) rehabilitation protocols. Functional outcomes were assessed using grip strength, pinch strength, dexterity tests, and validated questionnaires (SF-12, Duruoz Hand Index, Modified Hand Injury Severity Score). Tendon stiffness was measured longitudinally with SWE. Group comparisons and correlations between stiffness and clinical outcomes were analyzed.

results20 patients with 34 tendons completed 12-week follow-up. Both AR and PR groups showed significant functional improvements over time (p < 0.05). No significant intergroup differences were observed in grip strength, pinch strength, dexterity, or patient-reported outcomes. SWE measurements did not significantly differ between groups or time points. Functional recovery was achieved without parallel increases in stiffness, and correlations between SWE and clinical parameters were inconsistent.

conclusionsBoth active and passive rehabilitation protocols supported early functional recovery following flexor tendon repair. SWE provided objective monitoring of tendon healing but did not consistently correlate with functional outcomes. These findings highlight the multifactorial nature of tendon recovery and suggest that SWE may complement, but not replace, clinical assessment in postoperative rehabilitation. Larger cohorts and extended follow-up are needed.

trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05598918. Registered on 28 October 2022.

Indexed as

Elasticity Imaging TechniquesHand InjuriesTendon InjuriesAdultFemaleHand StrengthHumansMaleMiddle AgedPilot ProjectsRecovery of FunctionTreatment OutcomeClinical outcomesFlexor tendonsRehabilitationShear wave elastographyTendon stiffness

Identifiers

PMID41498969

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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.