Nonvascular phalangeal transfer from toes to hand in congenital aphalangia
Abstract
Methods : Six patients with congenital aphalangia underwent 18 nonvascular phalangeal transfers from toes to the hand. The anomaly was bilateral in one patient. Except for one patient who was 11.5 years old, the mean age at the time of surgery was 27 months (range 14 to 48 months). The patients were followed-up for a mean of 2.5 years (range 2 to 4 years) with respect to functional results, yearly longitudinal growth, epiphysial closure, bone resorption or necrosis, digital tip necrosis, fracture, angulation, subluxation, infections, and donor site morbidity.
Results : The mean yearly longitudinal growth rate of transferred phalanges was 2.4 mm. On final radiographic examinations, epiphysial closure was not completed in 14 phalanges (78%). Functional improvements included stabilization using the affected digit in three patients, and performing further movements in three patients. One patient underwent reoperation for postoperative subluxation. No fractures or angulation above 15 degrees were seen. Bone
resorptions were partial in three patients (16%), and total in one patient (5%). Concerning soft tissue complications, digital tip necrosis developed in one patient (5%). No infections were encountered during the follow-up. All the patients exhibited minimal donor digit shortening.
Conclusion : Nonvascular phalangeal transfer is an alternative rehabilitation method by which use of prosthetics may be facilitated and functional capacity may be increased in congenital hand anomaliessuch as congenital aphalangia, in which vascular phalanx transfer is not suitable.
Keywords
Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Health Care Administration
Journal Section
Research Article
Authors
Turker Ozkan
This is me
Samet Kuvat
This is me
Atakan Aydin
This is me
Ahmet Bicer
This is me
Publication Date
April 18, 2007
Submission Date
March 7, 2014
Acceptance Date
-
Published in Issue
Year 2007 Volume: 41 Number: 1