LAUSR

Overlap syndrome is a very rare condition defined by the coexistence of two connective tissue diseases in the same patient. We describe our experience with the surgical treatment of extensor digitorum communis involvement in the context of this infrequent disorder. A 42-year-old female with scleroderma-polymyositis overlap syndrome presented to our department with a suspected right-hand flexor tenosynovitis. Physical examination, imaging, and electromyographic studies demonstrated, however, an enlargement of the extensor digitorum communis tendons with an extension deficit of the fingers. Conservative management was unsuccessful, so we performed surgery to shorten the extensor tendons of the second, third, and fourth fingers of the right hand. The patient recovered hand mobility and her finger extension improved. She continues to maintain 160° extension of the metacarpophalangeal joints and is able to make a complete fist with her hand 18 months after surgery. Level of evidence: Level V, therapeutic study.