Extension contracture of the wrist: a case report

Progressive extension contracture of the wrist of a 19-year-old female patient was noted at operation to be due to shortening of the extensor carpi radialis longus and extensor carpi radialis brevis. Satisfactory wrist motion was restored with Z-plasty tendon lengthening of these two muscles. There was no apparent abnormality of the muscle bellies and no identifiable cause of the muscular contracture. A review of the literature revealed no previously reported cases of this kind.