Spontaneous rupture of extensor pollicis longus tendon with tophaceous gout infiltration.

INTRODUCTION: Spontaneous rupture of the extensor pollicis longus (EPL) tendon has been reported in the literature. Various mechanisms have been proposed to account for this problem, but gouty infiltration is a rare mechanism. Here we report a patient with a long-standing history of gout who presented with sudden loss of interphalangeal extension of the left thumb. Spontaneous rupture of the EPL tendon caused by gout was discovered.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The successful treatment done involved surgical exploration and extensor indicis proprius tendon transfer. Postoperative thumb spica immobilization for 6 weeks was applied.

RESULTS: Pathology disclosed urate crystals deposited within the ruptured EPL tendon. The functional recovery is satisfactory at the 1-year follow-up.

CONCLUSION: Spontaneous rupture of the EPL tendon caused by gout is rare. Successful treatment was done with surgical management. Life-long medical follow-up to prevent a repeated acute attack can lower the risk of a large amount of tophaceous gout infiltration in tendons and may possibly prevent acute spontaneous tendon rupture.