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. 2023 Nov 17;11(11):e5418.
doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000005418. eCollection 2023 Nov.

Tendon Transfers to Improve Grip and Pinch in Patients with Sporadic Inclusion Body Myositis

Catherine Hua  1 , Salman Bhai  2   3   4 , Jonathan Cheng  5 , Jose Hinojosa  3 , Lynn Wilson  4 , Manuel Lubinus  4 , Abhiram R Bhashyam  1   4
Affiliations

Tendon Transfers to Improve Grip and Pinch in Patients with Sporadic Inclusion Body Myositis

Catherine Hua et al. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. .

Abstract

Background: Sporadic inclusion body myositis (sIBM) is a rare and slowly progressive skeletal muscle disease that can cause hand dysfunction, which is a major source of disability. Tendon transfers have been reliably used to improve function in other neuromuscular settings. Given that sIBM patients often present with flexion impairments and mostly functioning extensors, we investigated the potential opportunity for tendon transfer surgery to improve hand dysfunction in sIBM patients.

Methods: We conducted a scoping review for studies of sIBM and tendon transfers, extracted descriptions of hand function and surgical technique, and recorded results in terms of hand function. We also conducted an institutional review board-approved survey with 470 participants to determine baseline patient-reported function and to determine participant perceptions and expectations for tendon transfer surgery to improve hand function in sIBM.

Results: We identified three published case reports on tendon transfers in sIBM patients with subjectively improved grip and pinch strength, but standardized measures of hand function or quality-of-life were not reported. Within the surveyed cohort, half of participants reported that they would consider surgery, yet only 8% had been referred to a hand surgeon. Fifty four percent of participants reported that they would consider surgery if there would be 1-2 years of benefit after surgery. All participants who would consider surgery also had significant upper extremity disability.

Discussion: Tendon transfer surgery has the potential to improve quality-of-life for sIBM patients, and there is significant patient interest in this approach. To objectively assess its efficacy, we propose conducting a surgical trial.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no financial interest to declare in relation to the content of this article.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Scoping review procedure and inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Frequency of participant-reported time since sIBM diagnosis. Mean time since diagnosis is 86 ± 71.6.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
SANE scores of participants considering tendon transfer surgery. Higher SANE scores indicate higher levels of physical function.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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