title: Clinical and microangiographic studies on rupture of the E.P.L. tendon after distal radial fractures.
abstract: The authors have treated 14 cases of spontaneous rupture of extensor pollicis longus tendon after fractures of the distal end of the radius, most of which were undisplaced or only slightly displaced. A microvascular study on five cadavers revealed that this tendon is subject to mechanical bending and attrition, has no mesotenon and has a poorly vascularised portion about 5 mm in length, which may be a cause of spontaneous rupture of the tendon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hirasawa
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Katsumi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akiyoshi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tamai
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tokioka
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D005596:Fractures, Closed / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000150:complications*; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery