Open AccessAbductor pollicis longus tendon division with swan neck thumb deformity
Author(s) -
Balaji Zacharia,
Kishore Puthezhath
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
strategies in trauma and limb reconstruction/strategies in trauma and limb reconstruction
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.5
H-Index - 24
eISSN - 1828-8936
pISSN - 1828-8928
DOI - 10.1007/s11751-012-0141-8
Subject(s) - thumb , medicine , deformity , tendon , carpometacarpal joint , surgery , orthopedic surgery , anatomy , tendon transfer , osteoarthritis , alternative medicine , pathology
Swan neck thumb deformity can be caused by osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, tendon transfers and paralytic diseases. Abductor pollicis longus is one of the major stabilizing tendon of the carpometacarpal joint of thumb. To the best of our knowledge, swan neck thumb deformity owing to division of abductor pollicis longus tendon is rare. In this article, we describe a case of isolated division of abductor pollicis longus tendon presenting with swan-neck deformity of thumb and discuss the mechanism, management and outcome. The patient was treated by repair of the divided tendon using palmaris longus tendon graft. At approximately 107 weeks following treatment, the patient was having full range of thumb movement and the deformity completely disappeared. We also describe the unusual mechanism whereby an isolated division of abductor pollicis longus tendon results in swan neck thumb deformity. Level of clinical evidence IV.