Turkish Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2009 , Vol 55 , Num 1

Spontaneous Rupture of Extensor Pollicis Longus Tendon: A Case Report

Dilek Durmuş 1 ,İlker İlhanlı 2 ,Kıvanç Cengiz 3 ,Ferhan Cantürk 1 ,Ahmet Pişkin 4
1 Ondokuz Mayıs Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Fiziksel Tıp ve Rehabilitasyon Anabilim Dalı, Samsun, Türkiye
2 Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Giresun University Faculty of Medicine, Giresun, Turkey
3 Ondokuz Mayıs Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Fiziksel Tıp ve Rehabilitasyon Anabilim Dalı, Samsu
4 Ondokuz Mayıs Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Ortopedi ve Travmatoloji Anabilim Dalı, Samsu

Rupture of extensor pollicis longus tendon (EPL) is rare. It can be caused by non-traumatic conditions as well as acute traumatic disorders. EPL tendon rupture has been reported as a sequela of chronic tenosynovitis secondary to rheumatoid arthritis and as a late complication of distal radius fracture. Here we present a case with acute spontaneous EPL tendon rupture with no obvious underlying etiological factor. Tendon rupture was repaired by transfer of extensor indicis proprius tendon. After a rehabilitation program including electric stimulation an excellent result was achieved. 

Keywords : Spontaneous rupture of tendon, rehabilitatio