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We examined 6 cases of tendon injuries that accompanied distal radius fractures using volar locking plate between April 2006 and March 2012. Male: one case, female: five cases, average age 57.0 (33~70) years old. The fracture type was A2 in one case, A3 in four cases, and C2 in one case by AO classification. The average period for operation waiting was 2.7 days. We analyzed the time of occurrence of tendon rupture (extensor pollicis longus (EPL)･flexor pollicis longus (FPL)), the existence or not of screw prominence and dorsal roof fragment, and the positioning of the plate setting. The tendon ruptures were EPL in four cases, and FPL in two cases. The average period of rupture occurrence was 86.8 (1~182) days. In four EPL tendon ruptures we recognized one marked screw prominence (16.7%), and two dorsal roof fragments (50%), both showing widespread displacement. Moreover, we recognized the malposition of the plate setting in the two cases of FPL tendon rupture (100%). The incidence of tendon ruptures accompanying distal radius fractures using volar locking plates was not low at all, therefore we should more pay attention to the prevention of this occurrence.

Seven patients with subcutaneus of the extensor pollicis longus tendon (EPL) in rheumatoid arthritis were studied. There were one man and six women. The mean age of the patients was 56. 9 years, with a range of 47 to 83 years. The duration of the disease was from 0.2 to 6 years, its average 3 years. An interval between rupture of the tendon and operation was 9 days to 18 months. Tendon transfers of the extensor indicis proprius tendons were performed in 3 cases, sutures in 2 cases and free tendon graft of the palmaris longus in one case. All cases showed very active tenosynovitis around the EPLs, which were ruptured near Lister's tubercle. The histopathological findings of the ruptured EPL revealed that synovial proliferative tissue with chronic inflammatory cells infiltration were invading into the tenion tissue directly. The synovial granulatins might weaken the tendon and repetitive mechanical stress on the tendon at Lister's tubercle could result in the rupture of EPLs.

To clarify the aging process and pathogenesis of rotator cuff tears, left supraspinatus tendons from 268 cadaveric specimens (171 men and 97 women, ages 0 to 87 years) were studied. The incidence of complete thickness tear was 6.7%, and that of incomplete thickness tear was 13.8% (bursal side tears: 2.6%, intratendinous tears: 7.5% and joint side tears: 3.7%). Microscopic examinations were conducted topographically in five sites near the supraspinatus insertion. In the articular side of the tendon, there were fewer tenocytes, fewer arterioles and more chondrocyte like cells than in any other portions. The incidence of hyperplasia of intima was higher in the specimens of aged persons in all portions. At the insertion in the aged specimens the arrangement of four transitional zones became much more irregular and the numbers of tidemark was occasionally increased with granulomatous tissue. The pathogenesis of the rotator cuff tear can be ascribed to the combination of aging, enthesopathy, inherent property of the supraspinatus tendon, injury and subacromial impingement.