Delayed Rupture of Flexor Tendons due to a Malunion of Distal Radius Fracture

Kim,  Tae Gyun; Heo,  Youn Moo; Yi,  Jin Woong; Oh,  Byung Hak; Ham,  Chang Uk

doi:2018.23.2.87

Arch Hand Microsurg > Volume 23(2); 2018 > Article

Case Report

Archives of Hand and Microsurgery 2018;23(2):87-92.
Published online June 1, 2018.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12790/ahm.2018.23.2.87

Delayed Rupture of Flexor Tendons due to a Malunion of Distal Radius Fracture

Tae Gyun Kim, Youn Moo Heo, Jin Woong Yi, Byung Hak Oh, Chang Uk Ham

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, College of Medicine, Konyang University, Daejeon, Korea. hurym1973@hanmail.net

Received: 2 February 2018 • Revised: 31 March 2018 • Accepted: 6 April 2018

Abstract

Tendon ruptures of the finger may occur due to various causes around the wrist. Because the malunion of distal radius affects the morphology of distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ), it may cause an arthritis of this joint. Progression of arthritis of the DRUJ may result in bony spurs, dislocation of ulnar head, or change of inclination of sigmoid notch. These changes can cause the attritional rupture of tendons around the DRUJ. We experienced an attritional rupture of 4/5th flexor tendons in a patient with arthritis of the DRUJ and palmar subluxation of ulnar head caused by malunion of distal radius. Although an attritional rupture of flexor tendons is less common than that of extensor tendons, progression of attritional ruptures and management are similar. However, because there are some differences between the former and the latter in radiologic findings and surgical considerations, we report this case with a review of the literature.

Key Words: Distal radius, Distal radioulnar joint, Malunion, Arthritis, Flexor tendon rupture