title: Bilateral rupture of the extensor pollicis longus tendon. A case report.
abstract: Bilateral rupture of the extensor pollicis longus (EPL) is a rare entity and the few cases that have been reported were associated with an underlying systemic condition such as rheumatoid arthritis or following an injury. We present the case of a patient who was referred to us with a spontaneous rupture of the EPL tendon of the right wrist and that of the left side observed 2 months after tenosynovectomy. The patient had not any pathologic condition or evidence of trauma in both wrists. In the left side, he was operated on and a tenolysis and subcutaneous tendon transposition was performed. Despite this preventive surgery, the patient suffered from a tendon rupture. The possible causes of surgery failure are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of orthopedics and traumatology Prof. Dr. Carlos E. Ottolenghi, hospital Italiano, Buenos Aires, Argentina. gerardo.gallucci@hospitalitaliano.org.ar
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Gallucci
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pacher
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Boretto
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Carli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008662:Metacarpophalangeal Joint / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D013717:Tenosynovitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D013933:Thumb / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014953:Wrist / Q000601:surgery