Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine

Case Report: J Korean Acad Rehabil Med. 2003;27(6):1000-1003.; Improvement of Active Daily Livings after Functional Surgery of Upper Limb on Tetraplegia with Elbow Flexion Contracture: A case report.; Lee, Young Hee , Kim, Sung Hoon , Chang, Sang Min , Kang, Suk Jung , Kim, Taek Sun , Jung, Yoon Ku; ¹Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Korea. kimrehab@hanmail.net
²Department of Plastic Surgery, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Korea.

Abstract: Traumatic tetraplegia is an overwhelming injury often requiring permanent adaptations by patients and families. The greatest potential for improving the quality of life lies with rehabilitation and restoration of upper extremity function. Functional surgery of upper limb following tetraplegia is individualized based on functional level and can signi ficantly improve hand functional quality of life. We have observed a 46-year old man with a C5 complete spinal cord injury and the patient had achieved functional improvement of upper extremity by functional surgery of upper limb for tendon transfer of posterior deltoid to triceps muscle and biceps tendon release. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2003; 27: 1000-1003)

Keywords :Tetraplegia, Spinal cord injury, Functional surgery, Upper extremity function