Closed ruptures of the flexor digitorum tendons: MRI evaluation

To assess the MRI findings in cases of closed rupture of the flexor digitorum tendons (FDT). Ten patients with a clinical suspicion of rupture of FDT underwent MRI before surgery. None of the patients presented a skin injury. Fingers were imaged using axial T1-weighted SE sequences, three-dimensiona...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Skeletal radiology 1998-11, Vol.27 (11), p.617-624
Main Authors: DRAPE, J.-L, TARDIF-CHASTENET DE GERY, S, SILBERMANN-HOFFMAN, O, CHEVROT, A, HOUVET, P, ALNOT, J.-Y, BENACERRAF, R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
Contrast Media
Female
Finger Injuries - diagnosis
Gadolinium
Humans
Injuries of the limb. Injuries of the spine
Magnetic Resonance Imaging - instrumentation
Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods
Male
Medical sciences
Meglumine
Middle Aged
Organometallic Compounds
Patient Care Planning
Retrospective Studies
Rupture
Tendon Injuries - diagnosis
Tendons
Tendons - pathology
Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents
Wounds, Nonpenetrating - diagnosis
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Summary:To assess the MRI findings in cases of closed rupture of the flexor digitorum tendons (FDT). Ten patients with a clinical suspicion of rupture of FDT underwent MRI before surgery. None of the patients presented a skin injury. Fingers were imaged using axial T1-weighted SE sequences, three-dimensional GE images, and curved reconstructions. Twelve FDT had surgical confirmation of rupture. Flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) and flexor pollicis longus (FPL) tendons were more frequently ruptured (n=8) than flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) tendons (n=4). MR images accurately depicted the level of the rupture. The gap between the tendon ends (mean 45 mm, range 21-70 mm) was assessed best with curved reconstructions and was well correlated with the surgical findings. The proximal end mainly retracted into the palm or the carpal tunnel (n=8), and less frequently into the digital canal (n=4). In two cases, the proximal end curled up in the palm, clinically simulating a rupture of a lumbrical muscle in one case. MRI also showed the appearance of the adjacent tendons. MRI accurately depicted the level of rupture and the gap between the tendon ends, which assisted the surgical choice between suture, graft or tendon transfer.
ISSN:0364-2348
1432-2161
DOI:10.1007/s002560050447