Modified extensor carpi radialis brevis adductorplasty for ulnar nerve palsy.

Residual paralysis or irreparable injury to the ulnar nerve results in considerable impairment of hand function and posture that directly affect daily living. Usually, claw hand deformity and loss of key pinch become problematic, but tendon transfer can be used to restore the lost functions. Adductorplasty using a wrist extensor tendon can restore thumb adduction strength without a significant loss of wrist extension strength, but the short length of the wrist extensor necessitates a free tendon graft to reach the thumb. Here, the authors present a modified extensor carpi radialis brevis adductorplasty technique that does not need a tendon graft by elongating the tendinous portion.