[Secondary repair of the extensor pollicis longus].

Repair of extensor pollicis longus, even when it is imperfect, generally gives fairly good results. This tendon is exposed to injury particularly as it leaves the pulley around Lister's tubercle and especially after a slightly displaced Pouteau-Colles fracture. Very marked retraction of the proximal part of the tendon is almost constant after three weeks and repair by secondary suture is rarely possible. For this reason, a palmaris longus graft or transfer of the intrinsic extensor of the index finger is generally required. The analysis of the results of 23 cases shows that, in order to obtain a perfect result, one should perform secondary suture with light tension when possible or transfer of the intrinsic extensor of the index finger. To improve the results, it is necessary to reconstruct a superficial pulley using the flexor retinaculum of the wrist, which prevents the tendon from sliding laterally. The test of complete cure is the capacity for hyperextension of the thumb with the wrist in complete extension.