Restoration of function using multiple tendon transfers in permanent radial palsy

Tendon transfers enable wrist and finger extension, and stabilize the thumb vvoints in permanent radial palsy. Different technigues of transfer and their modifications have been used so far. İn 14 out of 17 patients with a mean age of 26 years, we restored finger extension using pronator teres. Terun of function was expected in the other 3 patients, and the so called internal splinting operation was performed using only the pronator teres for vvrist extension. Immobilization in a plaster splint for three weeks was used postoperatively, and it was continued as a night splint foranother three weeks. A rehabilitation programme was started at the end of three weeks postoperatively for ali the patients. The man follow-up was 17 months on the average. Functional scoring was done according to the Zachary model and we obtained 11 very good, 3 good, 2 fair and, 1 bad results. Tvvelve patients returned to their former occupations. Fifteen patients were satisfied with the results. We did not encounter any infection postoperatively. The transfer for wrist extension failed in one patient. We obtained good results comprable with the ones in the literatüre using our technique of transfer, meticulous surgery and good rehabilitation. Although not so important, inability to provide radial abduction was the lacking port of the transfer.