Tendon Transfers/Transplants

[BabyRN2Be]

I'm not exactly sure where to post this, but does anyone know about tendon transfers/transplants? I'm not sure if they are even done.

I'm not asking for medical advice, but my brother damaged the tendon attached to his bicep. My mom is wondering if they even do such things as tendon transfers.

What I'm looking for is this:

1. Do they do such procedures?

2. If they do, what is the appropriate/technical name for the procedure?

As I said, I'm not looking for specific medical advice, I'd like to know if this procedure is even possible, I'll be able to do more research if I have the correct terminology.

My apologies if this is outside the TOS, but thank you for all who can help.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

google term "tendon transfers" much info online.

history of the procedure:

tendon transfers have been used in upper extremity reconstruction for well over a century. early on, the technique was used for reconstruction following obstetric brachial plexus palsy or paralysis secondary to polio. when hand surgery evolved as a subspecialty, transfer techniques expanded. the middle part of the 20th century saw the development of transfers for multiple peripheral nerve paralyses, including median, ulnar, and radial nerve palsies. multiple surgeons contributed to the field, including bunnell, boyes, brand, burkhalter, goldner, littler, moberg, omer, phalen, riordan, and zancolli.

in the latter part of the century, microvascular techniques were developed that added free muscle transfers as a possible tool for paralysis reconstruction. while newer techniques of functional electrical stimulation and microvascular transfer have added new dimensions to reconstruction, tendon transfer remains a primary tool in upper extremity paralysis management.

emedicine - hand, tendon transfers : article by philip e higgs, md