Tendon Transfer
Tendon transfer surgery is a type of hand surgery that is performed in order to improve lost hand function. During this surgery, a functioning tendon is shifted from its original attachment to a new one to restore the action that has been lost.
Many different conditions can be treated by this procedure. It is necessary when a certain muscle function is lost because of a nerve injury. If a nerve is injured and cannot be repaired, then the nerve no longer sends signals to certain muscles. Those muscles are paralyzed and their muscle function is lost. This surgery can be used to attempt to replace that function. Common nerve injuries that are treated with this procedure are spinal cord, radial nerve, ulnar nerve, or median nerve injury.
Such surgery may also be necessary when a muscle has ruptured or been lacerated and cannot be repaired. Common muscle or tendon injuries that are treated with this surgery are tendon ruptures due to rheumatoid arthritis or fractures and tendon lacerations that cannot be repaired after injury.
This surgery may also be needed if a muscle function has been lost due to a disorder of the nervous system. In this situation, the nervous system disease or injury prevents normal nerve signals from being sent to a muscle, and imbalance in hand function occurs. The muscle imbalance or muscle loss due to nervous system disease may be treated with tendon transfers. Common nervous system disorders treated with this surgery are cerebral palsy, stroke, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal muscle atrophy.
Finally, there are some conditions in which babies are born without certain muscle functions. In these situations, the missing muscle functions can sometimes be treated with this procedure. Common conditions treated this way include hypoplastic (underdeveloped) thumbs and birth brachial plexopathy (nerve problem with paralysis).
Physiotherapy
jogO EMG biofeedback can be used post surgery rehab for Tendon Transfer.
REFERENCES
http://www.assh.org/handcare/procedures-and-treatment/Tendon-Transfer-Surgery
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