Division of the flexor pollicis longus tendon during open carpal tunnel release through a limited incision

摘要

A 59-year-old right-handed woman presented with pain and inability to flex the interphalangeal joint (IPJ) of the left thumb for 3 weeks. Six months previously she had developed typical features of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in the left hand. One month before admission, she underwent surgical decompression of the left median nerve in a local hospital through a small transverse incision made at the wrist crease. However, 3 days after the operation she became aware of inability to flex the IPJ of the thumb (Figure 1A).