wrist tendon transfer
wrist tendon transfer
My daughter is 2 years old and we just heard back from Dr. Shenaq after he reviewed a video of her and an EMG and CT scan. He is suggesting a wrist tendon transfer. I would love to hear from anyone who has experienced this. What were the functional gains from the surgery? What was the surgery and recovery like? I realize my daughter has weak wrist extensors and apparently the EMG showed decreased innervation to her wrist. However, she can get her wrist past neutral and does not really have problems grasping objects, hanging from bars, picking up items, holding things, etc. Of course, she is only 2 and I don't know if the weakness will show up more later on. She has already had primary and mod quad surgery. Any information would be appreciated. Thanks!
Re: wrist tendon transfer
Hi Karen!
Of course this is just our experience and my view of it, but I hope it helps you. My daughter, now 2.5 years old was offered the same wrist surgery that you are talking about shortly before turning 2 - she had no extension but could get a little past neutral just like your daughter. (She also had the Primary and Mod Quad)
We went to about 3 different specialists and in the end I decided not to have my daughter have this surgery. While I pray I always make the right decisions for her this is why: 2 of the drs we saw told me that some of the patients who had this same surgery as a young child are now having to have their wrists surgically placed in nuetral as teens/adults. I am not a dr or a specialist but what I got from all the discussions (in my own words) was that it was like trading the flexion for the extension and in some cases the muscles eventually get loose to where they have little to none of flex. or ext. To me, this seemed worse than where my daughter was. She still has no extension today, but she CAN do a lot of other things.
Like I said before I am not a specialist and I am not trying persuade anyone to have or not have this surgery. This was just what happened with my daughter's events. The only advice I will give you is to talk to lots of doctors about it.
Of course this is just our experience and my view of it, but I hope it helps you. My daughter, now 2.5 years old was offered the same wrist surgery that you are talking about shortly before turning 2 - she had no extension but could get a little past neutral just like your daughter. (She also had the Primary and Mod Quad)
We went to about 3 different specialists and in the end I decided not to have my daughter have this surgery. While I pray I always make the right decisions for her this is why: 2 of the drs we saw told me that some of the patients who had this same surgery as a young child are now having to have their wrists surgically placed in nuetral as teens/adults. I am not a dr or a specialist but what I got from all the discussions (in my own words) was that it was like trading the flexion for the extension and in some cases the muscles eventually get loose to where they have little to none of flex. or ext. To me, this seemed worse than where my daughter was. She still has no extension today, but she CAN do a lot of other things.
Like I said before I am not a specialist and I am not trying persuade anyone to have or not have this surgery. This was just what happened with my daughter's events. The only advice I will give you is to talk to lots of doctors about it.
Re: wrist tendon transfer
Karen:
Another option might be to wait and see what happens. TCH told us, when our son Danny was 2, that a wrist-tendon transfer was likely in his future. By the time he was 3, they said he didn't need it. I'm not sure what made the difference -- good therapy? Who knows? But I was relieved to see that he got out of that one.
I know every case is different, but that was our experience. I wonder if waiting to see what happens might be an option for you guys -?
Good luck,
Janet
Another option might be to wait and see what happens. TCH told us, when our son Danny was 2, that a wrist-tendon transfer was likely in his future. By the time he was 3, they said he didn't need it. I'm not sure what made the difference -- good therapy? Who knows? But I was relieved to see that he got out of that one.
I know every case is different, but that was our experience. I wonder if waiting to see what happens might be an option for you guys -?
Good luck,
Janet
Re: wrist tendon transfer
Just bumping this back up to the top. I really appreciate the comments from Brenda and dmom. Thanks!