The Belfast regime is an early active motion protocol post 4-strand repair + epitenous suture of a flexor tendon which allows such motion and also assists in preventing adhesions due to immobilisation. Post repair, the patient (dependent on age and compliance i.e. would not splint a child, would cast), should see a Hand Therapist ASAP and have a dorsal blocking splint (DBS) made with the wrist ~ neutral, MCPJ's flexed to ~ 70 degrees and the IPJ's extended. Following this graduated active motion within the splint is progressed for the first 4/52 followed by coming out of the splint for gentle wrist TGE's and initiation of extension of the MCPJ's to neutral only for a further 2/52 still splinting in between. After 6/52 the splint is disconitnued and exercises are progressed further into light resistance etc. up to the 3/12 mark when the tendon will be fully healed (according to tendon healing timeframes) and there should be no functional limitations. Eatonhand.com is a helpful website, also contacting your local hand therapist, but hope this helps a bit!
