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.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
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.
Boyes JH. Selection of a donor muscle for tendon transfer. Bull Hosp Joint Dis. 1962;23:1–4.
Omer Jr JE. The technique and timing of transfers. Orthop Clin North Am. 1974;5:243–52.
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.
Boyes JH. Tendon transfers for radial palsy. Bull Hosp Joint Dis. 1960;21:97–105.
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.
Jones R. On suture of nerve, and alternative methods of treatment by transplantation of tendons. Br Med J. 1916;1:641–3.
Brand PW. Tendon transfers in the forearm. In: Flynn JE, editor. Hand surgery. 2nd ed. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins; 1975. p. 189–200.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Rodriquez-Niedenfuhr M, Vazquez T, Parkin J, Logan B, Sanuda JR. Martin Gruber anastomosis revisiting. Clin Anat. 2002;15(2):129–34.
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.
Parkes A. Paralytic claw fingers. A graft tenodesis operation. Hand. 1973;5:192–9.
Fowler SB. Extensor apparatus of the digits. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1949;31:477.
Riordan DC. Tendon transplantations in median nerve and ulnar nerve paralysis. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1953;35:312–20.
Burkhalter WE. Restoration of power grip in ulnar nerve paralysis. Orthop Clin North Am. 1974;5:289–303.
Zancolli EA. Structural and dynamic bases of hand surgery. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: JB Lippincott; 1979. p. 168–74.
Brand PW. Hand reconstruction in leprosy. In: Brand PW, editor. British surgical practice: surgical progress. London: Butterworth; 1954. p. 117.
Brand PW. Tendon grafting: illustrated by a new operation for intrinsic paralysis of the fingers. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1961;43:444–53.
Nevasier RJ, Wilson JN, Gardner MM. Abductor pollicis longus transfer for replacement of first dorsal interosseous. J Hand Surg Am. 1980;5:53–7.
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.
Royle ND. An operation for paralysis of the thumb intrinsic muscles of the hand. JAMA. 1938;111:612–3.
Thompson TC. A modified operation for opponens paralysis. J Bone Joint Surg. 1942;26:632–40.
Bunnell S. Opposition of the thumb. J Bone Joint Surg. 1938;20:269–84.
Littler JW, Li CS. Primary restoration of thumb opposition with median nerve decompression. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1967;39:74–5.
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.
Camitz H. Uber die Behandlung der Oppositionslahmung. Act Chir Scand. 1929;65:77–81.
Huber E. Hilfoperation bei median Uhlhmung. Dtsch Arch Klin Med. 1921;136:271.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights 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)