Rjp. Noorda et al., INDEX FINGER EXTENSION AND STRENGTH AFTER EXTENSOR INDICIS PROPRIUS TRANSFER, The Journal of hand surgery, 19A(5), 1994, pp. 844-849
We reviewed the long-term morbidity of the donor index finger followin
g extensor indicis proprius tendon transfer in 34 patients with an ave
rage follow-up period of 8 years. An extension lag of the donor index
was found to present in 24 patients. In all patients a reduced extensi
on strength of the donor index finger was noticed, either measured dep
endently (with concurrent long finger extension) or independently (wit
hout long finger extension). Despite these findings, 30 of the patient
s described no limitations in their daily life activities. In nearly a
ll patients the dependent extension strength was superior to the indep
endent extension strength. To prevent an extension lag, the surgeon sh
ould avoid surgical trauma to the dorsal aponeurosis (''hood'') by sec
tioning the index tendon proximal to the hood.