J Korean Orthop Assoc.  1997 Dec;32(7):1630-1635.

Opponensplasty with Palmaris Longus in Carpal Tunnel Release

Abstract

Thumb opposition is essential for all precision handling, in daily activity. Thenar muscle wasting is common in long-standing severe carpal tunnel compression. Unfortunately, muscle wasting rarely recovers after decompression of the nerve. A single-stage procedure, combining carpal tunnel release and opponensplasty, is therefore a logical proposal. Between July of 1993 and May of 1996, 15 patients of carpal tunnel syndrome with thenar muscle atrophy were operated upon Camitz-Littler opponensplasty at Kyungpook University Hospital; combination of palmaris longus transfer and median nerve decompression as a simultaneous procedure. Postoperative thumb opposition was assessed by means of three separate indices-maximal palmar abduction, spatial rotation, thumb-to-finger apposition. Results for an average post-operative follow-up of 12.0 months were achieved 'good' by 86.7%. We concluded that palmaris longus transfer as an opponensplasty carried out in combination with carpal tunnel release is a simple and effective procedure for restoration of opposition in case of severe carpal tunnel syndrome.

Keyword

Carpal tunnel syndrome; Palmaris longus transfer; Opponensplasty

MeSH Terms

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Decompression
Follow-Up Studies
Gyeongsangbuk-do
Humans
Logic
Median Nerve
Muscular Atrophy
Thumb
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