Abstract
We assessed the length-tension relationship of the posterior deltoid to triceps transfer in 8 tetraplegics (n = 11 transfers) and compared the results to the length-tension relationship of the normal triceps measured in a check sample composed of 9 able bodied, right handed women. We designed a device to lock the arm and forearm and used a force transducer to assess the torque output isometrically. The muscle was tested at 6 different lengths (130, 110, 90, 70, 45 and 0° of elbow flexion) with the shoulder abducted at 90°. As expected, the transfer behaved differently from the normal triceps. The mean maximum torque recorded was 7.8 Nm in patients while it was 27 Nm in the check sample. When compared, the absolute values (ie values expressed with a dimension of torque) were significantly different between groups (0.00001 < p < 0.002). The expression of this relation (ie the relative values expressed as percentage of maximum values) revealed significant statistical differences (p < 0.002) at 90 and 70° of elbow flexion; the peak torque was recorded at 130° in patients while it was recorded at 110° in the check sample, with a plateau between 110° and 70°. On the other hand, if the length–tension relationship was fairly similar among subjects of the check sample, it exhibited tremendous differences among patients; it seemed that initial tension given by the surgeon represented a variable difficult to control without a device dedicated to that task.
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Rabischong, E., Benoit, P., Benichou, M. et al. Length–tension relationship of the posterior deltoid to triceps transfer in C6 tetraplegic patients. Spinal Cord 31, 33–39 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.1993.6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.1993.6