University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA and New York University, New York, NY, USA
SIR, I read the discussion of extensor tendon rupture [1] with great interest. In one of my earliest papers [2], we followed the studies of Vaughan-Jackson (referenced in [1]) and Magnus Backdahl with careful descriptions of the pathogenesis of this lesion, and came to the conclusion that the rupture of the articular disc was necessary to promote the guillotine effect of the ulna at the distal radio-ulnar joint. The separate extensor digiti minimi proprius is often spared because it lies beside the afflicted area. While the simple and expenseless test proposed by the current authors might thus help predict extensor tendon ruptures, I would propose that an MRI, not available back in the antediluvian days of our study, looking at the articular disc (a fibrocartilage) would probably serve the purpose even better, if more expensively. I hope such a survey would be done in Dr Mowat's unit.
Notes
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