Triceps spasticity in traumatic hemiplegia: diagnosis and treatment

Three patients with adult-acquired hemiplegia are described with the unusual dynamic deformity of spasticity of the triceps muscle. This deformity produces motor imbalance with the triceps overpowering the elbow flexors, thus impeding volitional elbow flexion. The nature of the deformity was defined by electromyography of the muscle groups about the elbow, which demonstrated out-of-phase inhibitory electrical activity of the triceps muscle. Treatment consisted of V-Y lengthening of the triceps muscle to achieve agonist-antagonist motor balance. The operation improved hand placement for all three patients.