Latissimus dorsi
Surgical repair of posterosuperior rotator cuff
tears has a poorer outcome and a higher rate of failure compared
with repairs of supraspinatus tears. In this prospective cohort
study 28 consecutive patients with an irreparable posterosuperior
rotator cuff tear after failed conservative or surgical treatment
underwent teres major
Inability to actively supinate the forearm makes common activities of daily living and certain vocational activities awkward or impossible to perform. A total of 11 patients with deficient supination of the arm underwent transfer of the tendon of flexor carpi ulnaris to the split tendon of brachioradialis with its bony insertion into the radial styloid left intact. Active supination beyond neutral rotation was a mean of 37.2° (25° to 49.5°) at a minimum follow-up of three years, representing a significant improvement (95% confidence interval 25 to 50, p <
0.001). Functional evaluation of the hand after this transfer showed excellent and good results in ten patients and fair in one. The split tendon of brachioradialis as an insertion for transfer of the flexor carpi ulnaris appears to provide adequate supination of the forearm without altering the available pronation and avoids the domination of wrist extension sometimes associated with transfers of the flexor carpi ulnaris to the radial extensors of the wrist.
In adults with brachial plexus injuries, lack
of active external rotation at the shoulder is one of the most common residual
deficits, significantly compromising upper limb function. There
is a paucity of evidence to address this complex issue. We present
our experience of isolated latissimus dorsi (LD) muscle transfer
to achieve active external rotation. This is a retrospective review
of 24 adult post-traumatic plexopathy patients who underwent isolated latissimus
dorsi muscle transfer to restore external rotation of the shoulder
between 1997 and 2010. All patients were male with a mean age of
34 years (21 to 57). All the patients underwent isolated LD muscle
transfer using a standard technique to correct external rotational
deficit. Outcome was assessed for improvement in active external rotation,
arc of movement, muscle strength and return to work. The mean improvement
in active external rotation from neutral was 24° (10° to 50°). The
mean increase in arc of rotation was 52° (38° to 55°). Mean power
of the external rotators was 3.5 Medical Research Council (MRC)
grades (2 to 5). A total of 21 patients (88%) were back in work by the time of
last follow up. Of these,
13 had returned to their pre-injury occupation. Isolated latissimus
dorsi muscle transfer provides a simple and reliable method of restoring
useful active external rotation in adults with brachial plexus injuries
with internal rotational deformity. Cite this article:
We describe a new surgical technique for the
treatment of lacerations of the extensor tendon in zone I, which involves
a tenodesis using a length of palmaris longus tendon one-quarter
of its width. After exposing the dorsal aspect of the distal interphalangeal
joint and harvesting the tendon, a 1.5 mm drill bit is passed through
the insertion of the extensor tendon into the distal phalanx where
it penetrates through the skin of the pulp of the digit. The palmaris
longus tendon is threaded through the drill hole from dorsal to
ventral and the ventral end is tied in a simple knot and trimmed.
The palmaris longus tendon is then sutured to the extensor tendon
close to its insertion, and also at the middle of the middle phalanx. The operation was undertaken on 67 patients: 27 with an acute
injury and 40 patients with a chronic mallet deformity. One finger
(or the thumb) was involved in each patient. At a mean follow-up
of 12 months (6 to 18), 66 patients (98.5%) received excellent or
good results according to both the American Society for Surgery
of the Hand (ASSH) classification and Miller’s classification. Tenodesis using palmaris longus tendon after complete division
of an extensor tendon in zone 1 is a reliable form of treatment
for isolated acute or chronic ruptures.
Our aim was to determine whether the length and function of the flexor carpi ulnaris muscle were affected by separating it from its soft tissue connections. We measured the length of flexor carpi ulnaris before and after its dissection in ten patients with cerebral palsy. After tenotomy, tetanic contraction shortened the muscle by a mean of 8 mm. Subsequent dissection to separate it from all soft tissue connections, resulted in a further mean shortening of 17 mm (p <
0.001). This indicated that the dissected connective tissue had been strong enough to maintain the length of the contracting muscle. Passive extension of the wrist still lengthened the muscle after tenotomy, whereas this excursion significantly decreased after subsequent dissection. We conclude that the connective tissue envelope, which may be dissected during
We have reviewed 38 surgically treated cases of spontaneous posterior interosseous nerve palsy in 38 patients with a mean age of 43 years (13 to 68) in order to identify clinical factors associated with its prognosis. Interfascicular neurolysis was performed at a mean of 13 months (1 to 187) after the onset of symptoms. The mean follow-up was 21 months (5.5 to 221). Medical Research Council muscle power of more than grade 4 was considered to be a good result. A further 12 cases in ten patients were treated conservatively and assessed similarly. Of the 30 cases treated surgically with available outcome data, the result of interfascicular neurolysis was significantly better in patients <
50 years old (younger group (18 nerves); good: 13 nerves (72%), poor: five nerves (28%)) than in cases >
50 years old (older group (12 nerves); good: one nerve (8%), poor: 11 nerves (92%)) (p <
0.001). A pre-operative period of less than seven months was also associated with a good result in the younger group (p = 0.01). The older group had a poor result regardless of the pre-operative delay. Our recommended therapeutic approach therefore is to perform interfascicular neurolysis if the patient is <
50 years of age, and the pre-operative delay is <
seven months. If the patient is >
50 years of age with no sign of recovery for seven months, or in the younger group with a pre-operative delay of more than a year, we advise interfascicular neurolysis together with
Transfer of pectoralis major has evolved as the most favoured option for the management of the difficult problem of irreparable tears of subscapularis. We describe our experience with this technique in 30 patients divided into three groups. Group I comprised 11 patients with a failed procedure for instability of the shoulder, group II included eight with a failed shoulder replacement and group III, 11 with a massive tear of the rotator cuff. All underwent transfer of the sternal head of pectoralis major to restore the function of subscapularis. At the latest follow-up pain had improved in seven of the 11 patients in groups I and III, but in only one of eight in group II. The subjective shoulder score improved in seven patients in group I, in one in group II and in six in group III. The mean Constant score improved from 40.9 points (28 to 50) in group I, 32.9 (17 to 47) in group II and 28.7 (20 to 42) in group III pre-operatively to 60.8 (28 to 89), 41.9 (24 to 73) and 52.3 (24 to 78), respectively. Failure of the
We treated 31 patients with non-traumatic paralysis of the posterior interosseous nerve over 15 years. There were 10 men and 21 women of mean age 40.3 years (17 to 71). Six were managed conservatively, and 25 by operation. In 14 patients entrapment occurred at the supinator, including three who had double compression at both the entrance and exit from the muscle. In four it was caused by a ganglion, in one by a lipoma, in one by a dislocated radial head and in two by a marked constriction in the nerve of unknown cause. The remaining three patients were retrospectively diagnosed as having neuralgic amyotrophy, the only observable change at operation being slight oedema of the nerve. Paralysis recovered in 24 out of the 25 patients at between 2 to 18 months (mean 5.6) after operation, and the one failure was treated later by
In nine patients of median age 34 years who had sustained an amputation of the thumb at a median 24 (5 to 131) months previously, we lengthened the first metacarpal by 30 (17 to 36) mm. Seven amputations had been through the proximal phalanx and two through the metacarpal. The first two patients had autogenous grafting at a second stage, but the other seven had callotasis alone. In these patients the external fixators were removed at a median 189 (115 to 271) days after osteotomy. In six cases the adductor pollicis
We reviewed 42 consecutive children with a supination deformity of the forearm complicating severe birth lesions of the brachial plexus. The overall incidence over the study period was 6.9% (48 of 696). It was absent in those in Narakas group I (27.6) and occurred in 5.7% of group II (13 of 229), 9.6% of group III (11 of 114) and 23.4% of group IV (18 of 77). Concurrent deformities at the shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand were always present because of muscular imbalance from poor recovery of C5 and C7, inconsistent recovery of C8 and T1 and good recovery of C6. Early surgical correction improved the function of the upper limb and hand, but there was a tendency to recurrence. Pronation osteotomy placed the hand in a functional position, and increased the arc of rotation of the forearm. The supination deformity recurred in 40% (17 of 42) of those treated by pronation osteotomy alone, probably because of remodelling of the growing bone. Children should be followed up until skeletal maturity, and the parents counselled on the likelihood of multiple operations.
Residual muscle weakness in obstetric brachial plexus palsy results in soft-tissue contractures which limit the functional range of movement and lead to progressive glenoid dysplasia and joint instability. We describe the results of surgical treatment in 98 patients (mean age 2.5 years, 0.5 to 9.0) for the correction of active abduction of the shoulder. The patients underwent transfer of the latissimus dorsi and teres major muscles, release of contractures of subscapularis pectoralis major and minor, and axillary nerve decompression and neurolysis (the modified Quad procedure). The transferred muscles were sutured to the teres minor muscle, not to a point of bony insertion. The mean pre-operative active abduction was 45° (20° to 90°). At a mean follow-up of 4.8 years (2.0 to 8.7), the mean active abduction was 162° (100° to 180°) while 77 (78.6%) of the patients had active abduction of 160° or more. No decline in abduction was noted among the 29 patients (29.6%) followed up for six years or more. This procedure involving release of the contracted internal rotators of the shoulder combined with decompression and neurolysis of the axillary nerve greatly improves active abduction in young patients with muscle imbalance secondary to obstetric brachial plexus palsy.
We report the results of performing a pronating osteotomy of the radius, coupled with other soft-tissue procedures, as part of an upper limb functional surgery programme in tetraplegic patients with supination contractures. In total 12 patients were reviewed with a mean follow-up period of 60 months (12 to 109). Pre-operatively, passive movement ranged from a mean of 19.2° pronation (−70° to 80°) to 95.8° supination (80° to 140°). A pronating osteotomy of the radius was then performed with release of the interosseous membrane. Extension of the elbow was restored postoperatively in 11 patients, with key-pinch reconstruction in nine. At the final follow-up every patient could stabilise their hand in pronation, with a mean active range of movement of 79.6° (60° to 90°) in pronation and 50.4° (0° to 90°) in supination. No complications were observed. The mean strength of extension of the elbow was 2.7 (2 to 3) MRC grading. Pronating osteotomy stabilises the hand in pronation while preserving supination, if a complete release of the interosseous membrane is also performed. This technique fits well into surgical programmes for enhancing upper limb function.
The use of volar locking compression plates for the treatment of fractures of the distal radius is becoming increasingly popular because of the stable biomechanical construct, less soft-tissue disturbance and early mobilisation of the wrist. A few studies have reported complications such as rupture of flexor tendons. We describe three cases of rupture of extensor tendons after the use of volar locking compression plates. We recommend extreme care when drilling and placing the distal radial screws to prevent damaging the extensor tendons.
We describe 14 patients who underwent transfer of latissimus dorsi using a new technique through a single-incision. Their mean age was 61 years (47 to 76) and the mean follow-up was 32 months (19 to 42). The mean Constant score improved from 46.5 to 74.6 points. The mean active flexion increased from 119° to 170°, mean abduction from 118° to 169° and mean external rotation from 19° to 33°. The Hornblower sign remained positive in three patients (23%) as did the external rotation lag sign also in three patients (23%). No patient had a positive drop-arm sign at follow-up. No significant difference was noted between the mean pre- and postoperative acromiohumeral distance as seen on radiographs. An increased grade of osteoarthritis was found in three patients (23%). Electromyographic analysis showed activity of the transferred muscle in all patients.
We describe the clinical outcome of a technique of surgical augmentation of chronic massive tears of the rotator cuff using a polyester ligament (Dacron) in 21 symptomatic patients (14 men, seven women) with a mean age of 66.5 years (55.0 to 85.0). All patients had MRI and arthroscopic evidence of chronic massive tears. The clinical outcome was assessed using the Constant and Murley and patient satisfaction scores at a mean follow-up of 36 months (30 to 46). The polyester ligament (500 mm × 10 mm) was passed into the joint via the portal of Neviaser, medial to the tear through healthy cuff. The two ends of the ligament holding the cuff were passed through tunnels made in the proximal humerus at the footprint of the insertion of the cuff. The ligament was tied with a triple knot over the humeral cortex. All the patients remained free from pain (p <
0.001) with improvement in function (p <
0.001) and range of movement (p <
0.001). The mean pre-operative and post-operative Constant scores were 46.7 (39.0 to 61.0) and 85.4 (52.0 to 96.0), respectively (p <
0.001). The mean patient satisfaction score was 90%. There were two failures, one due to a ruptured ligament after one year and the other due to deep-seated infection. The MR scan at the final follow-up confirmed intact and thickened bands in 15 of 17 patients. This technique of augmentation gives consistent relief from pain with improved shoulder movement in patients with symptomatic massive tears of the rotator cuff.
We prospectively studied 26 consecutive patients with clinically documented sensory or motor deficiency of a peripheral nerve due to trauma or entrapment using ultrasound, and in 19 cases surgical exploration of the nerves was undertaken. The ultrasonographic diagnoses were correlated with neurological examination and the surgical findings. Reliable visualisation of injured nerves on ultrasonography was achieved in all patients. Axonal swelling and hypoechogenity of the nerve was diagnosed in 15 cases, loss of continuity of a nerve bundle in 17, the formation of a neuroma of a stump in six, and partial laceration of a nerve with loss of the normal fascicular pattern in five. The ultrasonographic findings were confirmed at operation in those who had surgery. Ultrasound may be used for the evaluation of peripheral nerve injuries in the upper limb. High-resolution ultrasound can show the exact location, extent and type of lesion, yielding important information that might not be obtainable by other diagnostic aids.
Restoration of hand function is rarely achieved after a complete closed traction lesion of the supraclavicular brachial plexus. We describe the injury, treatment, rehabilitation and long-term results of two patients who regained good function of the upper limb and useful function in the hand after such an injury. Successful repairs were performed within six days of injury. Tinel’s sign proved accurate in predicting the ruptures and the distribution of pain was accurate in predicting avulsion. The severe pain that began on the day of injury resolved with the onset of muscle function. Recovery of muscle function preceded recovery of sensation. Recovery of the function of C and Aδ fibres was the slowest of all.
The Mangled Extremity Severity Score (MESS) may be used to decide whether to perform amputation in patients with injuries involving a limb. A score of 7 points or higher indicates the need for amputation. We have treated three patients with a MESS of 7 points or higher, in two of which the injured limb was salvaged. This scoring system was originally devised to assess injuries to the lower limb. However, a MESS of 7 points as a justification for amputation does not appear appropriate when assessing injuries to the major vessels in the upper limb.
In a prospective, randomised study on the repair of tears of the rotator cuff we compared the clinical results of two suture techniques for which different suture materials were used. We prospectively randomised 100 patients with tears of the rotator cuff into two groups. Group 1 had transosseous repair with No. 3 Ethibond using modified Mason-Allen sutures and group 2 had transosseous repair with 1.0 mm polydioxanone cord using modified Kessler sutures. After 24 to 30 months the patients were evaluated clinically using the Constant score and by ultrasonography. Of the 100 patients, 92 completed the study. No significant statistical difference was seen between the two groups: Constant score, 91% Overall, seven patients had complications which required revision surgery, in four for pain (two in each group) and in three for infection (two in group 1 and one in group 2).