Restoration of extensor pollicis longus function by tendon transfer.

Transfer of the extensor indicis proprius was carried out in 28 patients with chronic loss of the extensor pollicis longus. The patients were evaluated after intervals ranging from 4 months to 5 years, and 23 (82 percent) showed excellent recovery of long thumb extensor function, although 9 of these did lose as much as 30 degrees of flexion at the interphalangeal joint. There were two failures (7 percent), and two patients were lost to follow-up. One patient ruptured the juncture of the transfer but responded well to reattachment. There were not complications attributed to removal of this tendon from the index finger.