Based on recent biomechanical studies undertaken at the Department of Orthopaedics, University of California, San Diego, U.S.A. there is a safe zone during transfer of the brachioradialis to power the thumb flexor. This result is based on testing of the influence upon brachioradialis-to-flexor pollics longus attachment site using buckle transducer under manipulation of elbow and wrist joint position. The study indicates that passive tensions exceeding 10-12 N can barely be achieved. Even this tension level is far less than the potential breaking level for a comparable tendon-to-tendon attachment which is at approximately 200 N (safety factor of 10) according to recent load-to-failure study. The study implies that free motion of the elbow can be allowed without harming the reconstruction of thumb flexion using brachioradialis as donor muscle-tendon construct in the immediate postoperative mobilization after this kind of reconstruction.
Biomechanical Studies of Donor Muscle Tension in Tendon Transfer Surgery
Based on recent biomechanical studies undertaken at the Department of Orthopaedics, University of California, San Diego, U.S.A. there is a safe zone during transfer of the brachioradialis to power the thumb flexor. This result is based on testing of the influence upon brachioradialis-to-flexor pollics longus attachment site using buckle transducer under manipulation of elbow and wrist joint position. The study indicates that passive tensions exceeding 10-12 N can barely be achieved. Even this tension level is far less than the potential breaking level for a comparable tendon-to-tendon attachment which is at approximately 200 N (safety factor of 10) according to recent load-to-failure study. The study implies that free motion of the elbow can be allowed without harming the reconstruction of thumb flexion using brachioradialis as donor muscle-tendon construct in the immediate postoperative mobilization after this kind of reconstruction.
