Abstract
Reconstruction of the traumatically or congenitally amputated thumb presents a significant challenge. The individual needs of the patient must be matched with the armamentarium available to the surgeon. Metacarpal elongation via the distraction-lengthening technique, which uses local tissue without sacrificing any adjacent digits or toes, is a reliable means of increasing thumb length by 3 to 3.5 cm. The optimal situation for performing this procedure is the presence of an amputation in the perimetacarpophalangeal joint region. Although neo-osteogenesis has been shown to be useful in pediatric patients, bone grafting is recommended in those individuals aged 25 years and older with gaps of 3 cm or more. The patient must be carefully observed during the distraction period because of the potential problems that may arise from the use of an external fixation device.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
