Skip to main content

Tendon Transfers

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Disorders of the Hand

Abstract

The art of hand surgery is appreciated when normal anatomical structures are brought in to substitute damaged non-functional tissue. Examples include vascularized bone grafts, flap surgery and tendon transfers. The exquisite functioning of the hand is characterised by mobility and sensibility. Motion is achieved by the contractile action of functioning musculo-tendinous units on mobile joints. When a specific function has been lost due to failure of the nerve, the muscle or the tendon, impairment is inevitable. Unless the damaged structures can be repaired and a satisfactory outcome achieved, tendon transfers become the mainstay of reconstruction and rehabilitation to a near normal premorbid status.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Brand PW, Beach RB, Thompson DE. Relative tension and potential excursion of muscles in the forearm and hand. J Hand Surg Am. 1981;6A:209–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Boyes JH. Selection of a donor muscle for tendon transfer. Bull Hosp Joint Dis. 1962;23:1–4.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Omer Jr JE. The technique and timing of transfers. Orthop Clin North Am. 1974;5:243–52.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Gousheh J, Arasteh E. Transfer of a single flexor carpi ulnaris tendon for treatment of radial nerve palsy. J Hand Surg Br. 2006;31B(5):542–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Boyes JH. Tendon transfers for radial palsy. Bull Hosp Joint Dis. 1960;21:97–105.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Chuinard RG, Boyes JH, Stark HH, Ashworth CR. Tendon transfers for radial nerve palsy: use of superficialis tendons for digital extension. J Hand Surg Am. 1978;3:560–70.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Jones R. On suture of nerve, and alternative methods of treatment by transplantation of tendons. Br Med J. 1916;1:641–3.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Brand PW. Tendon transfers in the forearm. In: Flynn JE, editor. Hand surgery. 2nd ed. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins; 1975. p. 189–200.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Raskin KB, Shaw Wiglis EF. Flexor carpi ulnaris transfer for radial nerve palsy: functional testing of long term results. J Hand Surg Am. 1995;20A(5):737–42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Pulvertaft RG. Tendon grafts for flexor tendon injuries in the fingers and thumb. A study of technique and results. J Bone Joint Surg. 1956;38B:175–94.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Kulikov YI, Dodd S, Gheduzzi S, Miles AW, Giddins GE. An in vitro biomechanical study comparing the spiral linking technique against the Pulvertaft weave for tendon repair. J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 2007;32B:377–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Brown SH, Hentzen ER, Kwan A, Ward SR, Friden J, Lieber RL. Mechanical strength of the side to side versus Pulvertaft weave tendon repair. J Hand Surg Am. 2010;35A:540–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Foster RJ, Swiantkowski MF, Bach AW, Sack JT. Radial nerve palsy caused by open humeral shaft fractures. J Hand Surg Am. 1993;18:121–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Pan CH, Chuang DC-C, Rodriguez–Lorenzo A. Outcomes of nerve reconstruction for radial nerve injuries based on the level of injury in 244 operative cases. J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 2010;35:385–91.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Rodriquez-Niedenfuhr M, Vazquez T, Parkin J, Logan B, Sanuda JR. Martin Gruber anastomosis revisiting. Clin Anat. 2002;15(2):129–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Zancolli EA. Claw hand caused by paralysis of the intrinsic muscles: a simple surgical procedure for its correction. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1957;39:1076–80.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Parkes A. Paralytic claw fingers. A graft tenodesis operation. Hand. 1973;5:192–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Fowler SB. Extensor apparatus of the digits. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1949;31:477.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Riordan DC. Tendon transplantations in median nerve and ulnar nerve paralysis. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1953;35:312–20.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Burkhalter WE. Restoration of power grip in ulnar nerve paralysis. Orthop Clin North Am. 1974;5:289–303.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Zancolli EA. Structural and dynamic bases of hand surgery. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: JB Lippincott; 1979. p. 168–74.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Brand PW. Hand reconstruction in leprosy. In: Brand PW, editor. British surgical practice: surgical progress. London: Butterworth; 1954. p. 117.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Brand PW. Tendon grafting: illustrated by a new operation for intrinsic paralysis of the fingers. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1961;43:444–53.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Nevasier RJ, Wilson JN, Gardner MM. Abductor pollicis longus transfer for replacement of first dorsal interosseous. J Hand Surg Am. 1980;5:53–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Fischer T, Nagy L, Buechler U. Restoration of pinch grip in ulnar nerve paralysis: extensor carpi radialis longus to adductor pollicis and abductor pollicis longus to first dorsal interosseus tendon transfers. J Hand Surg Br. 2003;28(1):28–32.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Royle ND. An operation for paralysis of the thumb intrinsic muscles of the hand. JAMA. 1938;111:612–3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Thompson TC. A modified operation for opponens paralysis. J Bone Joint Surg. 1942;26:632–40.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Bunnell S. Opposition of the thumb. J Bone Joint Surg. 1938;20:269–84.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Littler JW, Li CS. Primary restoration of thumb opposition with median nerve decompression. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1967;39:74–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Cooney WP, Linscheid RL, An KN. Opposition of the thumb: an anatomic and biomechanical study of tendon transfers. J Hand Surg Am. 1984;9:777–86.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Camitz H. Uber die Behandlung der Oppositionslahmung. Act Chir Scand. 1929;65:77–81.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Huber E. Hilfoperation bei median Uhlhmung. Dtsch Arch Klin Med. 1921;136:271.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael Solomons FCS (SA) Ortho .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer-Verlag London

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Solomons, M. (2015). Tendon Transfers. In: Trail, I., Fleming, A. (eds) Disorders of the Hand. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-6560-6_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-6560-6_2

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-6559-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-6560-6

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics