A Comparison of Results of Three Methods of Tendon Transfer for Radial Nerve Paralysis

Tendon transfer for radial nerve palsy is often a rewarding procedure. The aim of this study is to compare the results of three different kinds of transfers used for radial nerve paralysis. In a retrospective study 41 patients with irreversible radial nerve paralysis who had undergone tendon transfer over a of 5-year period (2005-2009) were studied. 18 patients had received flexor carpia ulnaris transfer 10 cases had flexor carpi radialis transfer and 13 had transfer of flexor digitorum superficialis. With a mean follow-up of 20 months the patients were evaluated for achieved range of motion return to previous job and their overall satisfaction. The DASH score was also calculated for each patient. There was no statistical difference between the 3 groups in terms of DASH score ability and time of returning back to job and their satisfaction with the procedure. The range of motion also did not show any difference. An overall satisfaction rate of 95 percent was observed with no major complication in any of the groups. The 3 different methods of tendon transfer studied in this paper give satisfactory results irrespective of the method used.