Prevention of post-operative "sublimis minus" deformity by modified surgical procedure at the donor finger.

ABSTRACT

"Sublimis minus" deformity occurs quite often as a post-operative deformity in the donor finger after transfer of the flexor superficialis tendon e.g., for paralytic claw finger correction. Our experience with a new procedure to avoid this outcome is described here. Long term results in 35 cases are very encouraging and the new procedure promises to be useful to prevent sublimis minus deformity. It also opens out a wider range of discretion given to hand surgeons to use the sublimis tendon more freely for transfers.