Results of pollicisation: what works and what doesn’t

Michael Tonkin

doi:10.1186/1753-6561-9-s3-a12

Abstract

The aim of pollicisation is to provide a strong, stable and mobile thumb of optimal size and shape. The controlling factors are the quality of the index finger, the quality of the adjacent digits and the stability and mobility of the wrist, all of which will be compromised by hypoplasia of bones, joints and soft tissues. However, even a stiff, bent, hypoplastic index finger accompanying a forearm radial longitudinal deficiency is used as a thumb for some activities, albeit in a modified manner. Assessment modalities include those of strength, pinch and grip, mobility, functional tests such as the Jebsen timed test, and documentation of thumb use for small, medium and large sized objects. A number of factors relating to technique will assist the surgeon in obtaining optimal results:

Highlights

From 10th Congress of the Asia-Pacific Federation of Societies of Surgery fo the Hand and the 6th Congress of Asia-Pacific Federation of Societies of Hand Therapists Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 2-4 October 2014
The controlling factors are the quality of the index finger, the quality of the adjacent digits and the stability and mobility of the wrist, all of which will be compromised by hypoplasia of bones, joints and soft tissues
A number of factors relating to technique will assist the surgeon in obtaining optimal results: Incisions These take the form of a modified z-plasty

Summary

Introduction

From 10th Congress of the Asia-Pacific Federation of Societies of Surgery fo the Hand and the 6th Congress of Asia-Pacific Federation of Societies of Hand Therapists Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 2-4 October 2014. The aim of pollicisation is to provide a strong, stable and mobile thumb of optimal size and shape. The controlling factors are the quality of the index finger, the quality of the adjacent digits and the stability and mobility of the wrist, all of which will be compromised by hypoplasia of bones, joints and soft tissues.

Results

Conclusion