title: Claw-finger correction in leprosy using half of the flexor digitorum superficialis.
abstract: The commonest paralytic deformity in leprosy is the claw deformity of the fingers. Many surgical procedures have been described and are practiced to correct this deformity, but none is free from complications. A modification of the Zancolli lasso operation in which only half of the flexor digitorum superficialis tendon of the middle finger was used as the motor is described and a comparative study of this and the conventional procedure was carried out in 70 hands in 70 patients. The results suggest that the modification is technically simpler, with comparable results to those of the conventional procedure and fewer complications.
authors.affiliation: Hoina Leprosy Research Trust, Muniguda, Orissa, India. drtsnkumar@yahoo.co.in
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Narayanakumar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005384:Finger Joint / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006227:Hand Deformities, Acquired / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008662:Metacarpophalangeal Joint / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013709:Tendon Transfer / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome