Long-term follow-up of free vascularized joint transfers to the hand in children

Abstract

Toe-to-hand vascularized joint transfers in four children were reviewed 6 to 8 years after operation (average, 6.6 years). Two children had vascularized metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints. Both children have near normal active range of motion. The transferred epiphyses have provided a major contribution to digital growth. The other two children had second toe proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints transferred to damaged hand joints. Active PIP joint extension has been disappointing, and the overall growth contribution of the transferred epiphysis has been small. We conclude that MTP to metacarpophalangeal vascularized joint transfer can provide painless, functional, stable motion, with near normal growth potential, and the usefulness of toe PIP to hand PIP joint transfer is limited by the inability to achieve good active extension and limited growth potential.