Congenital Aplasia or Hypoplasia of the Thumb and Finger Extensor Tendons

Abstract

Six cases of congental deformity of the extensor tendons of the fingers and thumb associated with soft-tissue flexion contractures are presented. The severity of the deformity varied from involvement of a single thumb to involvement of all ten digits. Various procedures to correct this deformity have been described. The procedure used for correcting the deformities in three of the cases in this series is described in detail. It consists in transfer of combinations of the superficial flexor tendons of the long, ring, and little fingers to the central slips of the extensor hood at the base of the proximal phalanges of the involved digits after release of the soft-tissue contractures.