Tendon Transfer Principles

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Topic updated on 05/08/13 10:10pm
Introduction
  • Principals when deciding tendon transfers
    • match muscles strength
      • force proportional to cross sectional area
      • amplitude proportional to length of muscle
      • work capacity = force x amplitude
      • motor strength will decrease one grade after transfer
    • appropriate tensioning
    • appropriate excusion (can adjust with pulley or tenodesis effect)
  • Postoperative care
    • protect for 3-4 weeks then begin ROM
    • continue with protective splint for 3-6 weeks
    • synergistic transfers are easier to rehabilitate (synergistic actions occur together in normal function. e.g., finger flexion and wrist extension)
Anatomy
 
Goal to regain
FROM: Donor tendon (working)
TO: Recipient Tendon (deficient)
Axillary nerve palsy
Shoulder stability (is flail)
glenohumeral arthrodesis
glenohumeral arthrodesis
Musculocutaneous nerve palsy
Elbow flexion
pectoralis major, latisimus dorsi
to biceps
Elbow flexion
common flexor mass
point more proximal on humerus (Steindler flexoplasty)
Radial nerve & PIN palsy 
Elbow extension
deltoid, latismimus dorsi, or biceps
to triceps
Wrist extension 
PT
ECRB
Finger extension
FDS, FCR, or FCU
EDC 
Thumb extension
PL or FDS
EPL
Low median nerve palsy
Thumb opposition and abduction
FDS (ring)
base proximal phalanx or APB tendon (use FCU as pulley - classic Bunnell opponensplasty)
EIP
APB (pulley around ulnar side of wrist)
High median nerve palsy
Thumb IP flexion
BR
FPL
Index and long finger flexion
FDP of ring and small finger (ulnar nerve)
FDP of index and middle
Ulnar nerve palsy
Thumb adduction
FDS or ECRB
adducor pollicis
Finger abduction (index most important)
APL, ECRL, or EIP
1st dorsal interosseous
Reverse clawing effect
FDS, ECRL
lateral bands of ulnar digits

 

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Qbank (1 Questions)

TAG
(OBQ10.14) A 50-year-old woman sustains an open both bone forearm fracture seen in Figure A and undergoes the treatment seen in Figure B. During surgery the posterior interosseous nerve was transected and primary repair was attempted. One year following surgery the patient continues to have no posterior interosseous nerve function. Which of the following treatments will best restore function? Topic Review Topic
FIGURES: A   B        

1. Sural nerve grafting to the posterior interosseus nerve
2. Wrist fusion with transfer of the flexor carpi ulnaris to the finger extensors
3. Transfer of the flexor carpi radialis to extensor digitorum and the palmaris longus to the extensor pollicis longus
4. Transfer of the pronator teres to the wrist extensors and the palmaris longus to the finger extensors
5. Transfer of the flexor carpi ulnaris to the wrist extensors and the palmaris longus to the extensor pollicis longus

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Videos

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Demonstrates the following tendon transfers performed by Dr. Susan Mackinnon: (1...
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