Effects of fingers of leprosy patients having surgical removal of sublimus tendons.

A retrospective study was carried out by the analysis of 212 charts of leprosy patients attending the Schieffelin Leprosy Research and Training Centre for the period 1964 to 1974. The purpose was to determine what changes were evident in postoperative fingers after their sublimus tendons were surgically removed for some other purposes such as for use as a motor tendon for opponens replacement etc. At the conclusion of the analysis it was found that there were five negative and two positive effects for these fingers. The negative effects were post-operative development of (1) Swan Neck Deformity (83%) (2) T.I.P. Extension Limitation (3) P.I.P. Flexion Limitation and, (4 & 5) T.I.P. Flexion and M.P. Extension Limitation. The positive effects were improvement of both hooding deformity (boutonniere) and P.I.P. Extension Limitation. The reasons for these negative and positive effects are discussed.