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Acta Scientific Orthopaedics (ISSN: 2581-8635)

Case Report Volume 9 Issue 1

Snapping Extensor Pollicis Longus Tendon – A Rare Case Report and Review of Literature

João Luis Afonso Martins1*, Manuel Ribeiro e Silva2, Nuno Neves2 and Pedro Negrão2

1Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, ULS São João, Porto, Portugal
2Hospital Cuf Porto, Portugal

*Corresponding Author: João Luis Afonso Martins, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, ULS São João, Porto, Portugal.

Received: November 24, 2025; Published: December 15, 2025

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Abstract

We report the case of a 32-year-old man presenting with painful dorsal snapping of the extensor pollicis longus tendon associated with trapeziometacarpal joint instability. Surgical management involved stabilization of the trapeziometacarpal joint using a hemi–extensor carpi radialis longus autograft to reconstruct the first–second intermetacarpal ligament. Persistent extensor pollicis longus subluxation was addressed by creating a dorsal “neo-sheath” pulley using the remaining extensor carpi radialis longus graft and tightening the radial sagittal band at the metacarpophalangeal joint, achieving centralization of the tendon. At the 12-month follow-up, the patient demonstrated full resolution of symptoms and restoration of thumb biomechanics.

Keywords: Extensor Pollicis Longus Tendon; Snapping Thumb; Tendon Instability; Trapeziometacarpal Instability; Pulley Reconstruction

References

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Citation

Citation: João Luis Afonso Martins., et al. “Snapping Extensor Pollicis Longus Tendon – A Rare Case Report and Review of Literature".Acta Scientific Orthopaedics 9.1 (2026): 29-33.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2026 João Luis Afonso Martins., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.




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