[Palliative tendon transfer for reanimation of the wrist and finger extension lag. Report of 14 transfers for radial nerve palsies and ten transfers for brachial plexus lesions]

Abstract

This retrospective study is based on 23 males and one female, of an average age of 36.2 years that presented to us between 1982 and 2000 with an average follow up of 61 months, with fully established paralysis of wrist and fingers extension. Fourteen patients had isolated radial nerve palsy, while ten patients had brachial plexus lesions. 1) The tendon transfer for radial nerve palsy was: PT to ECRB, FCU to ED + EPL and PL to APL + EPB; 2) for brachial plexus injury, the tendon transfer was: PT (n = 4) or FDS III or IV (n = 5) to ECRB, FCU (n = 8) or FDS IV (n = 1) to ED + EPL, PL to APL + EPB and wrist arthrodesis with transfer of FDS IV to ED + EPL and PL to APL + EPB. The results were evaluated according to the degree of wrist movement, MP extension of long fingers, opening of first commissure, thumb opposition, grip power and the subjective evaluation of results. Concerning the radial nerve palsy: results are excellent in nine cases and good in one case. An active extension of the wrist of 38 degrees was obtained as well as MP extension of 0 degree with the wrist straightened. Thumb oppositioned was conserved (Kapandji = 8.2), opening of the first commissure 40 degrees and grip power was 20 kg. Concerning the brachial plexus lesions: results are excellent in five cases and good in the other five. An active wrist extension of 32 degrees was obtained, as well as MP extension deficit of 16 degrees with wrist straightened. Opposition was concerned (Kapandji = 7.2), opening of first commissure of 38 degrees and grip power of 13 kg. The functional results are satisfactory, but the analytic study shows some effect of tenodesis of MP extension.