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Feasibility of Partial A2 and A4 Pulley Excision: Residual Pulley StrengthFrom the Upper Extremity Laboratory, Musculoskeletal Research Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh PA, USA Correspondence: M. M. Tomaino MD, Musculoskeletal Research Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, 210 Lothrop Street, E1641 BSTWR, University of Pittsburgh, PO Box 71199, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA. E-mail: mtomaino{at}uoi.upmc.edu We investigated residual digital flexor pulley strengths after 75% excision of the A2 and A4 pulleys. For direct pull-off tests, A2 and A4 pulleys from cadaveric fingers were tested by pulling on a loop of flexor digitorum profundus tendon through the pulley. For functional loading tests, fingers were positioned with the metacarpophalangeal joint flexed to 90° for A2 testing, and with the proximal interphalangeal joint in 90° flexion for A4 testing (with all other joints in full extension). Excision of 75% of A2 and A4 pulleys reduced pulley strengths determined by both testing methods. For the functional loading tests, which are more clinically relevant, mean tendon forces at failure after partial excision of A2 and A4 pulleys were 224 and 131 N respectively, which is sufficient to withstand flexor tendon forces expected during activities of daily living.
Journal of Hand Surgery (British and European Volume), Vol. 25, No. 1,
90-94 (2000) |
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