Review Article FLEXOR TENDON HEALING

Interest in tendon injuries dates back to antiquity, when Avicenna and other Arab surgeons first advocated suture repair of lacerated tendons in the 10th century A.D. Unfortunately, this concept was not well received, since Galen had stated in the 2nd century A.D. that tendons are composed of ligaments and nerves, and placing sutures in the tendon would lead to pain, twitching, and eventual convulsions. Galen’s profound influence on the practice of tendon surgery (as well as other areas of medicine) prevailed through the middle ages until the insensitivity of tendon was demonstrated by Van Haller in 1752, and the fear of a catastrophic response to suture was finally laid to rest. The first experimental studies of the tendon healing process were reported by Hunter in 1767; canine tendon