BACKGROUND:Common therapies for damage to the central tendon of finger extensor tendon include Matev, Carrol, Fowler methods as wel as residual central tendon flipping repair, but the therapeutic effects are no satisfied with bloated appearance, tendon adhesions, limited joint function. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the clinical effects of dorsal longitudinal driling and segmental tendon graft to repair old central tendon injury. METHODS:Eighty patients with old central tendon injury were randomized into treatment group and control group, with 40 cases in each group. In the treatment group, dorsal longitudinal driling and segmental tendon transplantation were given; while in the control group, Carrol, Matev, Fowler methods were chosen according to the individual conditions. Then, the therapeutic outcomes were compared between two groups. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The excelent and good rate was 85% in the treatment group and 65% in the control group, and there was a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). Results from Valpar Component Work Samples showed that the number of cases adapting to the original work was 30 cases (75%) in the treatment group and 16 (40%) in the control group, and there was also a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). The degree of proximal interphalangeal joint flexion was increased gradualy in the two groups at admission, at 15 days after hospitalization, at 1 day before discharge and at 4 months after discharge, and meanwhile, the degree of proximal interphalangeal joint dorsiflexion was reduced gradualy (P < 0.05). There were significant differences in the degree of proximal interphalangeal joint flexion and degree of proximal interphalangeal joint dorsiflexion between the two groups at 15 days after hospitalization, 1 day before discharge, and 4 months after discharge (P < 0.05). These findings indicate that the dorsal longitudinal driling and segmental tendon graft for repair of old central tendon injury can play an effective role in the recovery of articular flexion and extension function.