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Case Report  |  Open Access  |  14 May 2015

Rupture of the flexor carpi radialis tendon secondary to trauma: case report and literature review

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Plast Aesthet Res 2015;2:138-9.
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Abstract

The flexor carpi radialis (FCR) is one of the long flexors, which is important in flexing and abducting the hand at the wrist. It originates at the medial epicondyle of the humerus and attaches at the base of the second metacarpal. Closed rupture of the long flexors of the finger is well-described, especially in association with rheumatoid hands. However, rupture of the FCR is rare; only eleven cases reported in the literature, most of them associated with scaphotrapezial-trapezoidal osteoarthritis. We describe one case of complete FCR rupture secondary to trauma, showing that long-term disability following FCR rupture is minimal.

Keywords

Flexor carpi radialis, rupture, trauma

Introduction

Closed rupture of the long flexors of the finger is well described, especially in association with rheumatoid hands. However, rupture of the flexor carpi radialis (FCR) is rare with only eleven cases reported in the literature. Many of the described cases were associated with scaphotrapezial-trapezoidal (STT) osteoarthritis. We describe one case of complete FCR rupture secondary to trauma.

Case report

A 24-year-old right-hand dominant, professional male boxer suffered a traumatic blow to the left forearm during a sparring match. Four weeks after injury he presented to the clinic with a complaint of pain in his left wrist and a notable swelling in the region of the left FCR. On examination, there was tenderness along the course of the FCR as well as a palpable mass at the FCR origin. There was minimal loss of function on range of motion. Ultrasound/X-ray examination confirmed complete rupture of the FCR at its distal insertion. The FCR tendon and muscle belly retracted to approximately the proximal third of the forearm. In addition to the tendinous injury, radiograph revealed an osseous fragment attached to the distal end of the torn tendon.

Conservative treatment was decided to be the best management of this patient given the 4-week delay from onset of injury to presentation in the clinic. Furthermore, given the patient’s profession as an athlete and minimal functional impairment, the decision was made to avoid operative intervention and proceed to aggressive physiotherapy. He was followed at 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year, and was able to return to boxing 2 months after injury as deemed appropriate by the physical therapist, occupational therapist, and surgeon.

Discussion

The FCR tendon runs through a synovial fibro-osseous tunnel in the forearm to its insertion at the base of the second metacarpal. As the tendon traverses the carpal bones, it passes over the ulnar aspect of the scaphoid tubercle and along a groove in the medial surface of the trapezium. Two laminae (superficial and deep) of the transverse carpal ligament enclose the FCR tendon. The superficial lamina inserts on tubercle of the scaphoid and trapezium while the deep inserts on the medial lip of the groove of the trapezium.[1] The tendon passes through the scaphotrapezial joint line to insert at the base of the second metacarpal. The course of the tendon over the scaphotrapezial joint is of importance because of the increased incidence of rupture associated with scaphotrapezial osteoarthritis.[1]

In the English and French literature, 11 cases of closed spontaneous ruptures of the FCR tendon are described. Five cases of rupture were associated with a severe rheumatoid collapse.[2] These cases were treated operatively with debridement and synovectomy, but no tendon repair. In 5 cases, STT osteoarthritis was the cause of the tendon rupture. In STT, osteoarthritis osteophytes extend from the joint and during extension can damage the FCR tendon sheath. In these cases, no tendon repair was done as there was minimal functional impairment.[2] One case of FCR rupture secondary to fracture of the distal radius was described.[3]

In the majority of cases, FCR rupture is a clinical diagnosis. Patients present with pain at the ruptured ends of the tendon. Palpation may reveal a gap along the course of the FCR.[4] X-ray or computed tomography (CT) may be useful in determining the etiology of the rupture if bony spurs associated with osteoarthritis are suspected.

Complete rupture of the FCR tendon is generally conservative, as the deficit is relatively minor.[2] Good functional results have been reposted from simple splinting.[5] Occupational therapy is considered the standard of treatment and consists of active and passive range of motion exercises after 3 weeks of splinting. Functional problems after tendon rupture are minimal, and retraction of the tendon stump often makes reattachment difficult.[5] In fact, the FCR is a useful donor for arthroplasty tendon can be safely used in the reconstruction.[6]

In the case of partial ruptures, management with immobilization has been reported to successfully treat pain.[7] Given the association of FCR rupture and osteoarthritis, severe and localized pain has been described to be worse than rupture of other tendons of the wrist.[8]

Rupture of the tendon of the FCR is rare. Our case as well as the literature review demonstrates that long-term disability following FCR rupture is minimal. Although, commonly associated with scaphotrapezial osteoarthritis, our case demonstrates that rupture secondary to trauma is possible and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pain and swelling on the flexor surface of the wrist and forearm.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conficts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

REFERENCES

1. Chen PJ, Liu AL. Concurrent flexor carpi radialis tendon rupture and closed distal radius fracture. BMJ Case Rep 2014;10:2014.

2. Polatsch DB, Foster LG, Posner MA. An unusual rupture of the flexor carpi radialis tendon: a case report. Am J Orthop (Belle Mead NJ) 2006;35:141-3.

3. Allred DW, Rayan GM. Flexor carpi radialis tendon rupture following chronic wrist osteoarthritis: a case report. J Okla State Med Assoc 2003;96:211-2.

4. DiMatteo L, Wolf JM. Flexor carpi radialis tendon rupture as a complication of a closed distal radius fracture: a case report. J Hand Surg Am 2007;32:818-20.

5. Low TH, Hales PF. High incidence and treatment of flexor carpi radialis tendinitis after trapeziectomy and abductor pollicis longus suspensionplasty for basal joint arthritis. J Hand Surg Eur Vol 2014;39:838-44.

6. Tonkin MA, Stern HS. Spontaneous rupture of the flexor carpi radialis tendon. J Hand Surg Br 1991;16:72-4.

7. Bowe A, Doyle L, Millender LH. Bilateral partial ruptures of the flexor carpi radialis tendon secondary to trapezial arthritis. J Hand Surg Am 1984;9:738-9.

8. Ducharne G, Frick L, Schoofs M. Flexor carpi radialis tendon rupture following percutaneous osteosynthesis of the scaphoid: a case report. Chir Main 2009;28:50-2.

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OAE Style

Kanevsky J, Zammit D, Brutus JP. Rupture of the flexor carpi radialis tendon secondary to trauma: case report and literature review. Plast Aesthet Res 2015;2:138-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/2347-9264.157108

AMA Style

Kanevsky J, Zammit D, Brutus JP. Rupture of the flexor carpi radialis tendon secondary to trauma: case report and literature review. Plastic and Aesthetic Research. 2015; 2: 138-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/2347-9264.157108

Chicago/Turabian Style

Kanevsky, Jonathan, Dino Zammit, Jean-Paul Brutus. 2015. "Rupture of the flexor carpi radialis tendon secondary to trauma: case report and literature review" Plastic and Aesthetic Research. 2: 138-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/2347-9264.157108

ACS Style

Kanevsky, J.; Zammit D.; Brutus J.P. Rupture of the flexor carpi radialis tendon secondary to trauma: case report and literature review. Plast. Aesthet. Res. 2015, 2, 138-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/2347-9264.157108

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