History and Evolution of the Kessler Repair

The “grasping technique” described by Isidor Kessler and Fuad Nissim in 1969 is a popular method of flexor tendon repair. Different authors have modified this technique to the point where the so-called “modified Kessler technique” bears little resemblance to the original description. This article sheds light on the life and contributions of Isidor Kessler, and examines the evolution of the Kessler technique and the origin of grasping and locking tendon repairs. We also discuss the problems associated with eponymous descriptions of tendon repair techniques and propose an alternative descriptive system.