A method of restoration of the abduction of the thumb in traumatic tetraplegic patients.

A method of restoring extension and abduction of the thumb in traumatic tetraplegia is described. This method includes tenodesis of the abductor pollicis longus, transfer of the distal stump of the extensor pollicis brevis tendon to the flexor carpi radialis tendon, and transfer of the distal stump of the extensor pollicis longus tendon to the brachioradialis tendon. I performed this procedure on 6 hands in 5 patients and monitored each patient for 6 to 12 months. A significant increase in radial abduction of the thumb (0.5 +/- 0.2 cm to 2.8 +/- 0.2 cm) occurred in all hands.