Our experience in tendon transfers for radial palsy.

Techniques of tendon transfers in the management of sequelae of radial paralysis have progressively been improved. The main modifications have concerned the operative details and the choice of procedures with the necessity of adapting the technique to the needs of the patient. In the case of a manual laborer whose job does not require special dexterity, it seems preferable to reinforce the extension of the wrist by using a flexor digitorum sublimis, especially in dominant hand. If, on the contrary, independence of flexion is required for each finger, the removal of a superficialis flexor tendon must be avoided. If the patient already has a tendency toward radial deviation before the operation, the flexor carpi ulnaris must be left in place. In all other cases, we prefer to transfer the flexor carpi ulnaris to the extensor digitorum communis as described in the technique we developed.