Surgical Treatment of Congenital Hypoplasia of the Thumb

Abstract

Purpose: We evaluated the results and complications of surgical treatment for congenital thumb abnormalities. Materials and Methods: Between 2002 and 2011, nine thumbs were surgically treated (Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea). There were five males and four females. The mean age of patients at the time of operation was 4.7 years (seven patients were under five years old and two patients were over 10). Five cases of Blauth type V hypoplasia (aplasia) were treated by pollicization (using the Buck-Gramcko technique). Four cases of type I or II hypoplasia were treated by opponensplasty and tendon transfer (for extensor and abductor augmentation). The Mehta scoring system was used for analysis of outcomes. Results: Among nine cases, outcomes were good in five cases, fair in three cases, and poor in one case. Second operations were required due to muscle weakness and metacarpo-phalangeal joint subluxation in three cases of aplasia and one case of hypoplasia. In all cases, the range of active abduction of the thumb was more than 40° and pinch power was at least 40% of that on the normal side at the latest follow up. Conclusion: Surgical reconstruction using pollicization and opponensplasty for congenital thumb aplasia and hypoplasia, with additional surgery for muscle weakness, provided good results both functionally and cosmetically.