Opponensplasty in intrinsic-muscle paralysis of the thumb in leprosy.

For eighty-six cases of leprous paralysis of the intrinsic muscles of the hand, a modified Bunnell opponensplasty (transfer of a finger flexor) was done. Good results were seen in eighteen and fair results in sixty-three. The five poor results occurred because of infection, weakness, or deformity. Adjuvant procedures, as needed, were interphalangeal arthrodeis of the thumb, capsulorrhaphy of the wrist, and additional tendon transfers.