Extensor pollicis brevis tendon can hyperextend thumb interphalangeal joint in absence of extensor pollicis longus:Case report and review of the literature

We are reporting a case of extensor pollicis longus tendon rupture which did not require tendon transfer owing to the ability of the intact extensor pollicis brevis(EPB) to fully hyperextend the thumb interphalangeal joint. The thumb metacarpophalangeal joint was also able to be fully actively extended by the EPB. Previous anatomical studies have demonstrated that the insertional anatomy of the EPB tendon is highly variable and sometimes inserts onto the extensor hood and distal phalanx, which is likely the mechanism by which our patient was able to fully extend the thumb interphalangeal joint. Despite the potential for the EPB to extend the IP joint of the thumb, virtually all previously reported cases of extensor pollicis longus(EPL) tendon rupture had deficits of thumb IP extension requiring tendon transfer. This case highlights the potential ability of the EPB tendon to completely substitute for the function of the EPL tendon in providing thumb IP joint extension.

Motor Response of Mirror Therapy after Reconstruction of Extensor Mechanism Caused by Glass Cut Injury

Treatment by mirror therapy (MT) restores motion in injured limbs without invasive procedures. This process is widely accepted for rehabilitating patients with phantom limb pain, stroke victims, or patients who need therapy after nerve damage. The procedure is specifically useful in restoring motion to the hand after surgical repairs to the extensor muscle and tendons. Mirror therapy rewires the brain by making the restored limb remember hand motions by observing the motions of a normal hand. The concept of a mirror image is that the movement of the uninjured arm forms the illusion of the same movement in the affected arm. Efforts to repeat hand movements elicit the same reaction in the affected hand in what is referred to as Hebbian learning. This case study evaluated MT’s effectiveness in motion restoration after a glass injury. This case study showed restoration of normal hand motions in a patient following surgery to repair a glass cut to the arm. Surgery repaired the lacerated extensor tendon and radial nerve. The muscle belly was repaired, and a graft fixed the nerve gap. Once the arm healed, the patient underwent rehabilitation in mirror therapy to restore normal function in his hand. After conducting mirror therapy, the pain was eliminated, and the patient restored normal function of moving the hand and finger extension. In addition, the therapy could be conducted at home without needing a professional. The effectiveness of mirror therapy was seen in the functional restoration of hand and finger movement. The process is also less complicated as it can be performed at home.

Review of the optimal timing and technique for extensor tendon reconstruction in composite dorsal hand wounds

Aim: The management of complex dorsal hand wounds with extensor tendon loss is controversial. Treatment has focused on soft tissue coverage, but there is limited evidence comparing immediate vs. staged tendon reconstruction. This review evaluates existing literature to determine the optimal management of composite hand defects. Methods: A MEDLINE database review was performed including objective measurements such as number of operations, total active motion, grip strength, days to maximum range of motion (ROM), and return to work. Data extraction included demographics, surgical techniques, complications, and relative outcome. We compared primary and secondary staged reconstruction to correlate any significant differences in outcome and determine optimal timing and technique for extensor tendon reconstruction. We extracted information on flap types including regional and free tissue transfer with tendinous components vs. staged tendon grafts. Results: Comparison of outcomes showed that patients with immediate reconstruction had fewer operations, faster return to maximum ROM, and greater chance of returning to work. The most successful single stage flaps include the radial forearm, suitable for reconstructing one to three tendons and the dorsalis pedis for three or four tendons;however, there were significantly more complications in immediate reconstruction particularly regarding donor site morbidity. Pedicled flaps had better total active motion. The two-stage approach resulted in acceptable functional outcomes without significant complications. ;Conclusion: Immediate cutaneous tendinous flaps have clear advantages over staged approaches for reconstruction ofcomposite dorsal hand wounds. Benefits include less operations, faster time to maximum ROM, and higher percent of patients returning to work;however, significantly more flap related complications were seen. Immediate pedicled radial forearm provided the best total active motion with least complications. When patient circumstances dictate, a fascial perforator free flap offers a suitable environment for staged tendon grafts with good functional outcomes reported albeit longer time to achieve them.