eMedicine Specialties > Plastic Surgery > Hand

Hand, Tendon Transfers: Workup

Author: Steffen Baumeister, MD, Consulting Staff, Department of Plastic Surgery, Breast Center, Behandlungszentrum Vogtareuth, Bavaria, Germany
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Oct 3, 2008

Workup

Laboratory Studies

  • The workup of candidates for tendon transfers consists mostly of the physical examination to determine available muscles for transfer and function to be restored.
  • The only laboratory studies needed are those that ensure the safety of the patient during surgery.

Imaging Studies

  • Plain radiographs of joints that are stiff may be necessary to ensure that obtaining a supple joint is possible. Severe arthritic conditions in joints involved with the function to be restored represent a relative contraindication to proceeding with the procedure.

Other Tests

  • When loss of function is secondary to neurologic or peripheral nerve injury, nerve conduction studies and electromyography (EMG) can help differentiate permanent injury from recovering injury. EMG denervation patterns are evident early, to be followed by evidence of reinnervation.

More on Hand, Tendon Transfers

Overview: Hand, Tendon Transfers
Workup: Hand, Tendon Transfers
Treatment: Hand, Tendon Transfers
Follow-up: Hand, Tendon Transfers
Multimedia: Hand, Tendon Transfers
References
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References

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Further Reading

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Keywords

tendon transfer, muscle transfers, hand paralysis, upper extremity paralysis, wrist tendon paralysis, activities of daily living, ADLs, muscle-tendon units, upper extremity reconstruction, obstetric brachioplexus palsy, brachial plexus palsy, tendon repair, hand reconstruction, hand function, polio, paralysis, hand surgery, EPL, extensor pollicis longus, BR, brachioradialis, ECRL, extensor carpi radialis longus, ECRB, extensor carpi radialis brevis, FCU, flexor carpi ulnaris, EDC, extensor digitorum communis, EMG, electromyography, FDS, Flexor digitorum superficialis, EIP, extensor indicis proprius, PT, pronator teres, FDP, flexor digitorum profundus

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Steffen Baumeister, MD, Consulting Staff, Department of Plastic Surgery, Breast Center, Behandlungszentrum Vogtareuth, Bavaria, Germany
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Anthony E Sudekum, MD, Consulting Staff, Department of Plastic Surgery, St John's Mercy Health Center of Saint Louis
Anthony E Sudekum, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Surgeons, American Society for Surgery of the Hand, and Missouri State Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Jorge I de la Torre, MD, FACS, Professor of Surgery and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Residency Program Director, Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham; Director, Center for Advanced Surgical Aesthetics
Jorge I de la Torre, MD, FACS is a member of the following medical societies: American Association of Plastic Surgeons, American Burn Association, American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association, American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery, American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Association for Academic Surgery, and Medical Association of the State of Alabama
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Nicolas (Nick) G Slenkovich, MD, Practice Director, Colorado Plastic Surgery Center at Swedish Medical Center
Nicolas (Nick) G Slenkovich, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American Medical Association, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, and Colorado Medical Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Subhas Gupta, MD, PhD, CM, FRCS(C), FACS, Professor of Surgery, Chair, Department of Plastic Surgery, Director of Plastic Surgery Residency, Director of Comprehensive Wound Service, Department of Plastic Surgery, Loma Linda University School of Medicine
Subhas Gupta, MD, PhD, CM, FRCS(C), FACS is a member of the following medical societies: American Association of Plastic Surgeons, American Burn Association, American College of Phlebology, American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association, American Medical Informatics Association, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, California Society of Plastic Surgeons, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons, Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, Plastic Surgery Research Council, Quebec Medical Association, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and Wound Healing Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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