Surgical solution and clinical outcome for an initially undertreated vaughan-jackson syndrome

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

Vaughan-Jackson syndrome was described as a progressive rupture of the hand's extensor tendons due to tendon attrition at the wrist. It is frequently associated with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. We present a 75-year-old male patient with a painless limitation of the extension of the little finger of the left hand. Initially, he presented a palmar displacement of the left carpus while lifting a heavy object. Vaughan-Jackson syndrome was diagnosed. At first, an end-to-side repair of the affected tendons was performed. Four months later, the patient returned with spontaneous extension lag of the left little and ring fingers. A second surgery was performed with the transfer and reconstruction of extensor tendons with a favorable outcome. Vaughan-Jackson syndrome causes functional impairment and detriment to the quality of life; thus, it is imperative to make an accurate and early diagnosis. Surgical treatment must be done in a timely and appropriate manner. We aim to report the outcome of a patient with an initially undertreated Vaughan-Jackson syndrome, highlighting the necessity of comprehensive treatment of the underlying pathophysiology, to obtain a desirable outcome.