Surgical management of spastic thumb-in-palm deformity in adults with brain injury (original) (raw)
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Assessment of hand after brain damage with the aim of functional surgery
Annales de chirurgie de la main et du membre supérieur : organe officiel des sociétés de chirurgie de la main = Annals of hand and upper limb surgery, 1999
The semiology of the hand after brain damage is really rich. Its clinical evaluation remains quite difficult and must be integrated in the neuro-orthopedic and cognitive context. Deficiency, neuropsychological, analytic and functional status, must be assessed before any surgical decision aiming the improvement of prehension. Neuropsychological evaluation precise the hemispheric specialization: right hemisphere lesions conduct to unilateral spatial neglect while left hemispherical lesions determine language troubles and gesture impairment (apraxia). The analytical evaluation describes motor and sensitive function and assesses spasticity and pain. Concerning the functional assessment, the Enjalbert's score seems to be the most adapted to the upper limb. The assessment of hand deficiency and its origin is necessary to orientate the surgical decision and includes the Zancolli classification for the fingers and wrist and the House classification for the thumb. These classification us...
The Journal of Hand Surgery, 2010
The superficialis to profundus (STP) tendon transfer is an effective procedure to correct a spastic clenched fist deformity in a nonfunctional upper extremity. An intrinsic thumb-in-palm (TIP) deformity, caused by increased activity in the adductor pollicis and flexor pollicis brevis muscles, commonly becomes apparent after an STP procedure. The goal of this study was to investigate the efficacy of median nerve recurrent branch neurectomy, done at the time of STP and in concert with an ulnar motor nerve neurectomy and wrist arthrodesis, in the prevention of an intrinsic TIP deformity caused by spastic thenar muscles. Methods We retrospectively evaluated a consecutive series of 23 patients with upper motor neuron syndrome who underwent an STP transfer performed by a single surgeon at our institution. Group 1 included 11 consecutive patients who underwent an STP, ulnar nerve motor branch neurectomy, and wrist arthrodesis. Group 2 included 12 consecutive patients who underwent the same procedures with the addition of a neurectomy of the recurrent median nerve. We examined outcomes including development of a postoperative intrinsic TIP deformity, resolution of hygiene issues, and the need for additional surgery to correct the remaining deformities. Results Patients were observed for an average of 16.1 months. In group 1, 5 of 11 patients developed an intrinsic TIP deformity, compared with 2 of 12 in group 2. Hygiene-related issues resolved in 8 of 11 patients in group 1 and 10 of 12 patients in group 2. There were no wound infections. In the 7 patients with postoperative intrinsic TIP deformity (5 in group 1 and 2 in group 2), 5 elected to have additional surgery. Of the 7 patients, 2 declined additional surgery because their deformities were mild and their hygiene issues had resolved. Conclusions Median nerve recurrent branch neurectomy appears to be a useful adjunct to STP with ulnar motor branch neurectomy and wrist arthrodesis in the prevention of an intrinsic TIP deformity in the nonfunctional hand.
Surgical treatment of the non-functional spastic hand
The Journal of Hand Surgery: Journal of the British Society for Surgery of the Hand, 1985
The authors use Zancolli's classification for the surgical evaluation of the spastic upper limb. The paper describes the surgical technique used by the authors in the treatment of twenty-six patients grade III, having a "non-functional hand". After justifying the treatment, the technique is described which includes a time for the elbow to relax the antebrachii flexors and M. Epitrochlearis, a time for defunctioning the pronators and relaxing the flexors by intramuscular tenotomy. Transplantation of the flexors of the wrist is carried out to the extensors of the wrist and fingers. The thumb-in-palm is corrected by a tenotomy of the Adductor and Flexor Pollicis Brevis and transplanting the Brachioradialis to the tendons of the first dorsal compartment.
Management of spastic hand by selective peripheral neurotomies
Alexandria Journal of Medicine, 2011
Objective This study was done to evaluate the functional results of SPN of median and ulnar nerves in 10 patients who had spastic hyperflexion of the wrist and fingers. Methods All patients preoperatively had spasticity either G3 or G4 as measured by modified Ashworth ...
Upper Extremity Surgery in Spastic Cerebral Palsy
Journal of Academic Research in Medicine, 2012
Involvement of the upper extremity in cerebral palsy often results in a typical pattern of spasticity, with elbow flexion, forearm pronation, ulnar deviation and flexion of the wrist, and adduction-flexion posture of the thumb. Although only a relatively small subset of cerebral palsy patients are candidates for surgery, properly selected patients and procedures yield a reasonable improvement. Nonsurgical treatment modalities include physical therapy, orthoses, and medications aimed at decreasing spasticity. Surgical options for the management of the spastic upper extremity vary with the specific parts, however they are focused around three basic principles: weakening the overactive muscle/tendons, strengthening the underactive muscle/tendons, and stabilizing non-stable joints. Surgical management of the spastic upper limb in cerebral palsy requires meticulous evaluation and planning. It is important to know that upper extremity deformities are secondary manifestations of the cerebral injury. Therefore, in addition to evaluation of upper extremity function, consideration should be given to the intelligence and motivation of the patient, and voluntary use of the upper extremity. Prior to surgery, the overall level of function needs to be considered. These are also important details for the patients and their families, who should know that surgery is aimed at improving the upper extremity deformity, and not the primary disorder. Appropriately indicated surgery can significantly contribute to upper extremity function.