The disease caused damage to the patient’s nervous system and she lost control of 25 of the 30 muscles in her right hand. Dr. Wolfe worked with the patient for three months on a solution, which included matching working, available tendons in her arm to non-working muscles in her palm.
Surgeons stabilized the patient’s thumb and then transferred tendons from her working muscles in the forearm and reconnected them in a different place. The muscle that previously strengthened the patient’s wrist is now used to bend her fingers.
The patient has undergone physical therapy for three weeks and is able to perform tasks such as pouring and texting.
Read the Hospital for Special Surgery release about the hand surgery.
Read other coverage on the Hospital for Special Surgery:
– Hospital for Special Surgery Researchers Examine Wrist Motion
– Hospital for Special Surgery Physician Performs Tommy John Surgery on Former Phillies Pitcher
– Hospital for Special Surgery Rheumatologist Explains New Osteoporosis Recommendations
