Tendon Transference in Poliomyelitis

Abstract

SUMMARY The commonly accepted principles for tendon transference are re- viewed. The indications for operating on children and for carrying out these operations on the foot without stabilizing operations are discussed and the advantage of placing the transferred tendon subcutaneously is mentioned. The follow up study of a series of tendon transferences in poliomyelitis operated upon during the 10 year period 1945–54 at Vanföreklinikken, Sophies Minde, Oslo, is reported. The material represents 185 tendon transferences in 112 patients. The majority of the tendon transferences are performed in children, 26 in the age group 1–5 years, 72 in the age group 6–10 years and 55 in the age group 11–15 years. Only 32 of the transferences are in the age group 16 years or more. The result is strikingly uniform in these different age groups, confirming our view that tendon transference is a useful method in selected cases of polio, even in children of whom 50 % or more will need no further surgery later on. Thus tendon transferences on the foot can give satisfactory results without stabilizing operations. An insufficient gliding mechanism after subcutaneous rerouting of the transferred tendon was in no case the cause of a bad result.