ABSTRACT
A tendon transfer is the operative relocation of a (donor) muscle, along with its neurovascular structures, to a different (recipient) anatomical site in order to achieve or augment a lost function. The procedure involves detaching the tendon insertion, mobilizing the muscle and reattaching the distal tendon into a recipient tendon or bone insertion site. Tendon transfers have application in a variety of disorders, including paralysis associated with lower motor neuron injury (peripheral nerve, poliomyelitis or brachial plexopathies); paralysis or spasticity associated with upper motor neuron injury (spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, cerebrovascular accident) and limb dysfunction following primary muscle or tendon damage (ischemic injury, rupture, irreparable laceration) (see Chapter 2, Table 1). This chapter provides an overview of the general principles of tendon transfers and includes pertinent aspects of history, biomechanics, anatomy and clinical applications.
