Tendon transfers for radial nerve palsy.

Outlined below are the tendon transfer procedures I have used in the treatment of 69 radial nerve palsy cases encountered during the past 25 years. The factors considered in determining which surgical procedure is to be performed are as follows: (i) neurorrhaphy is impossible; or (ii) neurorrhaphy would be possible, but useful recovery cannot be expected; (iii) signs of recovery cannot be seen six months after neurorrhaphy; or (iv) useful restoration cannot be expected because of scar formation or muscular atrophy in the surrounding area. In some cases, there may be some degree of functional restoration of extensor function, which is a welcome bonus, but tendon transfer is the most useful procedure to provide for a built-in dynamic splint in the hand. Therefore, so long as the correct indications for tendon transfer are carefully observed, this operation deserves to be used frequently.