In order to understand the influence of the free tendon graft and the tendon transfer on their blood supply, histological and biochemical changes during healing following repair of the damaged tendon after the alteration of the nourishing environment, an experiment was carried on 36 New Zealand white rabbits. In the front paws of the rabbits, the free tendon graft was sutured in the tendon defect of flexor of the fourth toe and the flexor tendon of the third toe was transferred to the second toe to reconstr...
The reconstruction of the extension function of wrist and fingers in 35 patients with radial nerveinjury was reported, The indications of oporation and the main management during and after operationwere discussed.It was thought that the tendon transfer was an effective method to reconstructextension functions of wrist and fingers after the injury of radial nerves and could be served as asupplementary means after radial nerve repair.
Objective To evaluate the results of thumb opposition function by transferring the extensor carpi ulnaris and the extensor poll icis brevis muscle tendons. Methods Between March 2006 and August 2009, 35 patients with dysfunction of thumb opposition were treated and the thumb opposition function was reconstruced by transferring the extensor carpi ulnaris and the extensor poll icis brevis muscle tendons. There were 25 males and 10 females with an average age of 33.5 years (range, 20-53 years); 20 had median nerve injury in the wrist and 15 had median nerve injury with ulnar nerve injury. The causes were sharp instrument injury in 24 cases, blunt injury in 9 cases, and hot crush injury in 2 cases. Six cases complicated by shaft fractures of radius and ulna. All the patients underwent an operation of nerve repair at 1 to 3 hours after injury (mean, 2 hours). The time from injury to reconstructing operation was 6-14 months (mean, 7.5 months). Two cases was able to abduct thumb sl ightly, the others had no functions of thumb abduct and thumb opposition. Results All the wounds gained the primary healing. The patients were followed up 12-18 months (mean, 14 months). The wrist joint angle and thumb dorsal extension were satisfactory. Thumb abduct and thumb opposition function returned to normal in 20 patients with simple median nerve injury; in 15 patients with median nerve injury and ulnar nerve injury, thumb abduct and thumb opposition function returned to normal in 15 and 13, respectively. According to ZHAO Shuqiang’s standard, the results of thumb opposition function were normal in all patients at 12 months after operation. Conclusion It is a convenient and efficient procedure to reconstruct thumb opposition function by transferring the extensor carpi ulnaris and the extensor poll icis brevis muscle tendons.
ObjectiveTo explore the effectiveness of functional reconstruction of hand grasp and pinch by tendon transfers in patients with cervical spinal cord injury.MethodsBetween July 2013 and January 2016, tendon transfer surgery were performed in 21 patients (41 hands) with cervical spinal injury that motion level was located at C6 to reconstruct hand grasp and pinch function. There were 18 males and 3 females with a mean age of 42.3 years (range, 17-65 years). Nineteen patients were with complete spinal cord injury [American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) grading A], 1 patient was with central cord syndrome whose bilateral hands were completely paralyzed and lower limbs were normal (ASIA grading D), and 1 patient was with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (AISA grading D). The time from injury to hospitalization was 12-22 months (mean, 16.8 months). According to the International classification of surgery of the hand in tetraplegia (ICSHT), there were 6 cases of grade O3, 10 of grade O4, 3 of grade OCu5, and 2 of grade O5. The surgery was divided into two stages with an interval of 6-11 months. At the first stage, grip function was reconstructed in all patients by transfering the extensor carpi radialis longus from radialis side to palmar side through subcutaneous tunnel, and braided and sutured with the flexor pollicis longus and flexor digitorum profundus. At the second stage, the lateral pinch function of the thumb and index finger was reconstructed by braiding and suturing the radial half of the extensor carpi ulnaris (the patients graded as ICSHT O3) or pronator tere (the patients graded above ICSHT O3) with extensor pollicis longus and abductor pollicis longus. The grasp force, the thumb and index finger lateral pinch force, and the maximum fingertips distance between the thumb and index finger were measured at preoperation and at different time points after operation. The modified Lamb and Chan questionnaire, based upon the activities of daily living, was used to evaluate the hand function of all patients at 6 months after sencond stage surgery.ResultsThere was 1 patient with elbow skin lesion, 1 patient with wrist stiffness; both of them recovered after corresponding treatment. All the 21 patients were followed up 15-32 months (mean, 19.6 months) without wound infection, tendon adhesion, tendon rupture, and other complications. The grasp forces of all patients were significantly improved at 4 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year after the first stage surgery when compared with preoperative value (P<0.05); and no significant difference was found between different time points after operation (P>0.05). The thumb and index finger lateral pinch force and the maximum fingertips distance between the thumb and index finger of all patients were also significantly improved at 4 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year after the second stage surgery when compared with preoperative values (P<0.05); and no significant difference was found between different time points after operation (P>0.05). And there was no significant difference of above indexes between the patients graded as ICSHT O3 and above ICSHT O3 (P>0.05). The functional outcome was good in 19 cases, fair in 1 case, and poor in 1 case according to modified Lamb and Chan questionnaire at 6 months after second stage surgery.ConclusionTendon transfer can significantly improve the hand function and the quality of life of the patients with complete cervical spinal cord injury.
Three cases of common peroneal nerve injuries from sports were reported. All of the three cases were overlooked in their early treatment. The diagnosis was clarified 5 months to 33 years after injury. Because the chance of early repair was lost, they all were treated by tendon transfer with the hope to improve the function of foot. The mechanism of this type of injury and the problems related to the diagnosis and treatment were discussed.
Objective To investigate the effectiveness of the terminal extensor tendon reconstrution by palmaris longus tendon graft for the treatment of old mallet finger deformity. Methods Between February 2009 and February 2011, 32 patients with old mallet finger deformity were treated with palmaris longus tendon graft. There were 28 males and 4 females with an average age of 32.5 years (range, 22-58 years). The injury causes included sports injury in 26 cases and punctured injury in 6 cases. The index finger was involved in 8 cases, the middle finger in 3 cases, the ring finger in 16 cases, and the little finger in 5 cases. According to the Rockwell’s classification, all patients were classified as type I. The time from injury to operation was 4-16 weeks (mean, 6 weeks). Results Primary healing was obtained in all incisions; no necrosis, infection, or nail bed injury occurred. All patients were followed up 12-20 months (mean, 14 months). The patients had no pain or paresthesia of volar finger. According to Patel’s functional assessment system, the results were excellent in 8 cases, good in 21 cases, fair in 2 cases, and poor in 1 case at last follow-up, with an excellent and good rate of 90.6%. Conclusion Reconstruction of the terminal extensor tendon by palmaris longus tendon graft is a reliable method to treat old mallet finger deformity.