Are tendon transfers justified in very old hand radial palsies?

SummaryThere have been very few reports about results of tendon transfers carried out in very old radial palsies affecting the hand. We present two cases of radial palsy operated 52 and 30 years after the original injury, which also had after-effects in pronosupination due to elbow injuries. In the first patient, with high radial-nerve palsy, we made a triple transfer of the pronator teres to the extensor carpi radialis brevis, the flexor carpi ulnaris to the extensor digitorum communis and the palmaris longus to the extensor pollicis longus. In the second case, which had posterior interosseous nerve palsy, we transferred the flexor carpi radialis to the extensor digitorum communis, and the brachiorradialis to the extensor pollicis longus. The surgical findings showed a ‘gelatinous degeneration’ in some of the receiving tendons, which did not prevent the sutures from being resistant. The first patient, who had a stiff elbow, with pronosupination blocked since childhood, showed disuse atrophy of the pronator teres, which conditioned a late rupture of the tenomuscular junction and required a second surgery for wrist arthrodesis.Results after postoperative period of 30 months after surgery in the first patient, and 14 months after surgery in the second one, showed functional recovery in finger range of extension, grip and key-pinch strength and a significantly higher QuickDASH score, restoring the natural aesthetical appearance of the limb. This facilitated the return to professional and daily activities, re-establishing a fine ability to grab and release objects.