Reconstruction of a chronic extensor digitorum communis tendon rupture using a bridge tendon graft.

There were no reports of chronic extensor digitorum communis (EDC) III tendon rupture in zone 5. We report a case of chronic EDC III tendon rupture in zone 5 reconstructed with a bridge tendon graft using palmaris longus tendon. End-to-end tendon repair seemed difficult for chronic EDC tendon rupture, and it was feared that direct repair would result in residual extension contracture of the finger. A 47-year-old right-handed male underwent a bridge tendon graft using the palmaris longus tendon for a chronic EDC III tendon rupture in zone 5 six weeks after the injury. Six months after the surgery, the middle finger extension was almost full, and the flexion range of motion was full.