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Z-plasty lengthening of the flexor digitorum profundus at the wrist (zone 5) for the treatment of jersey finger

2014; Elsevier BV; Volume: 67; Issue: 8 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.bjps.2014.04.025

1878-0539

L. Chanel, J.‐L. Grolleau, F. Lauwers, A. André,

Rabies epidemiology and control

Aim The aim of this study was to conduct an anatomical evaluation of advancement obtained from Z-plasty lengthening of the flexor digitorum profundus at the wrist (zone 5) for the treatment of jersey finger. Introduction The avulsion of the flexor digitorum profundus from its distal insertion, or jersey finger, is an injury commonly missed in the accident and emergency department. Typically, after 3 weeks, the retracted tendon stump prevents direct reinsertion of the tendon. Sawaya et al. have proposed a treatment involving a zone 5 Z-plasty lengthening on the fourth finger. We conducted an anatomical study to evaluate the tendon advancement that could be obtained in the long digits using this method. Method Tendon avulsion was recreated in 17 fresh cadaver hands by severing the flexor digitorum profundus from its distal insertion. A 3-, 4- or 5-cm Z-plasty was performed at the wrist and, after section of the vinculum breve, the advancement was measured with wrist extension at 0°. Results A total of 68 tendon reconstructions were performed. The mean advancement obtained was 1.5 cm (max: 2.5 cm; min: 0.5 cm), 2.3 cm (max: 3.2 cm; min: 1.3 cm) and 2.5 cm (max: 3.5 cm; min: 1.7 cm) for 3-, 4- and 5-cm Z-plasties, respectively. Tendon advancement in the ring finger and middle finger was limited by the lumbrical (2 cases) or by synovial adhesions in the carpal tunnel (16 cases). There was no such limitation for the index finger. Discussion Advancement of the flexor digitorum profundus by a 4-cm Z-plasty at the wrist seems to be a useful technique for reinsertion of a retracted tendon. The best results were obtained in the index finger. This technique could be considered as an alternative to palliative surgery or a tendon graft. In the other fingers, the fact that advancement was limited due to Verdan's quadriga effect and synovial adhesions highlights the significance of the relationship between the tendons themselves and with their environment on the physiology of finger flexion.