Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34253207›Full record

ArticleBMC surgery2021

Single incision thenar muscle reconstruction using the free functional pronator quadratus flap.

Martin Aman, Arne H Boecker, Mirjam Thielen, Camillo T Mueller, Amir K Bigdeli, Ulrich Kneser, Leila Harhaus

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC surgery, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Improving outcomes in traumatic peripheral nerve injuries to the upper extremity.European journal of orthopaedic surgery & traumatology : orthopedie traumatologie · 2024
    Review
  4. Article
  5. Review
  6. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Martin AmanDepartment of Hand-, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Burn Center, BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen, Department of Hand- and Plastic Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Ludwig-Guttmann-Str. 13, 67071, Ludwigshafen, Germany. Martin.aman@bgu-ludwigshafen.de.
Arne H BoeckerDepartment of Hand-, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Burn Center, BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen, Department of Hand- and Plastic Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Ludwig-Guttmann-Str. 13, 67071, Ludwigshafen, Germany.
Mirjam ThielenDepartment of Hand-, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Burn Center, BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen, Department of Hand- and Plastic Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Ludwig-Guttmann-Str. 13, 67071, Ludwigshafen, Germany.
Camillo T MuellerDepartment of Hand-, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Burn Center, BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen, Department of Hand- and Plastic Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Ludwig-Guttmann-Str. 13, 67071, Ludwigshafen, Germany.
Amir K BigdeliDepartment of Hand-, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Burn Center, BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen, Department of Hand- and Plastic Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Ludwig-Guttmann-Str. 13, 67071, Ludwigshafen, Germany.
Ulrich KneserDepartment of Hand-, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Burn Center, BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen, Department of Hand- and Plastic Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Ludwig-Guttmann-Str. 13, 67071, Ludwigshafen, Germany.
Leila HarhausDepartment of Hand-, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Burn Center, BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen, Department of Hand- and Plastic Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Ludwig-Guttmann-Str. 13, 67071, Ludwigshafen, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundInjuries to the thenar muscle mass or the thenar branch of the median nerve and resulting loss of thumb opposition lead to a massive impairment of hand function. For decades, reconstructive approaches were based on tendon transfers. To broaden the reconstructive repertoire, we present the free functional pronator quadratus flap as a viable alternative for functional reconstruction and provide a specification for its indication. We demonstrate our surgical technique to a single incision reconstruction using the free functional pronator quadratus flap. Based on a series of three patients, which were analyzed for hand function using Kapandji's score and the angle of Bourrel, grip strength and nerve conduction velocity in a two year follow up, we present an indication algorithm.

resultsAfter successful reinnervation of all flaps, we found an improvement of Kapandji's score from 4.3 ± 0.94 preoperatively, to 8.7 ± 0.47 after two years. Accordingly, the angle of Bourrel decreased from 75.75 ± 3.45 degrees to 36.96 ± 3.68 degree. Grip strength also improved from 14 ± 2.2 kg to 26.2 ± 1.2 kg. No impairment of wrist pronation was observed.

conclusionWe found excellent functional recovery of thumb opposition and strength, showing similar or even superior results compared to results from tendon transfers. With the benefit of a single incision surgery and therefore minimal donor site morbidity, this free functional muscle transfer is a viable alternative to classic tendon transfers.

Indexed as

Hand InjuriesPlastic Surgery ProceduresSurgical WoundHumansMuscle, SkeletalSurgical FlapsFlap surgeryFree functional muscle transferPlastic surgeryReconstructive microsurgeryReconstructive surgeryThenar muscle lossThenar muscle reconstructionThumb opposition

Identifiers

PMID34253207
PMCPMC8276497

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.