Combined reduction osteotomy for triphalangeal thumb

Triphalangeal thumb is an uncommon congenital deformity. The thumb is long, awkward, frequently angulated, and may have a broad, unsightly nail. When the middle phalanx has an abnormal C-shaped ("delta") epiphysis, the deformity worsens if untreated. Three triphalangeal thumbs in two patients who were 2 1/2 and 8 1/2 years of age were treated with single-stage combined longitudinal and transverse reduction osteotomy, which included narrowing, shortening, and deangulation by ablating the extra joint and abnormal epiphysis. The patients were followed 48 to 59 months after surgery. Realignment, corrected relative length, and interphalangeal motion have been preserved in all thumbs. Neither patient has developed instability or angulation or had a recurrence after surgery.     

家族性三节指骨拇并复拇畸形一例

患者 男，18岁。因双手拇指末节指骨尺偏并左拇多指畸形18年入院。患者出生时即发现双手拇指末节指骨尺偏并伴有左拇多指畸形，随年龄增长，畸形加重，做精细活动时稍有影响，为追求美观和改善拇指功能而入院治疗。临床检查：左手复拇并指畸形，桡侧指体细小（有独立指甲，可扪及三节指骨至掌指关节）为赘生指；尺侧指体粗大，较右拇大小相近，为主干拇指。     

The non-opposable triphalangeal thumb: a new technique of management

Fifteen non-opposable triphalangeal thumbs (eight patients) were treated with a new two-staged surgical technique. The first stage included excision of the proximal interphalangeal joint and osteotomy of the thumb metacarpal, and aimed to restore a correct thumb length, position and alignment and to create a wide thumb web space. The second stage consisted of an opponensplasty with refining of any of the first stage components, as necessary. The mean age at surgery was 3.2 years (range, 2.5-6 years). After a mean follow-up period of 42 months (range, 26 months to 7 years), the targets of treatment had been accomplished without loss of growth potential, joint stability or thumb motion. All children had improved function and cosmesis of the hand.     

Autosomal dominant transmission of bilateral "opposable" triphalangeal thumb

Triphalangeal thumb occurs in two functional types: opposable and non-opposable. The opposable type presents a rudimentary middle phalanx and the thumb is frequently angulated. The non-opposable type presents a finger-like thumb (five-fingered hand). Triphalangeal thumb often occurs in syndromes where other anomalies are present, so its pattern of inheritance has often been described jointly with the syndrome itself, then conflicting patterns of inheritance have been reported in literature. The present study reports upon the character of "bilateral opposable triphalangeal thumb" occurring isolated, without association of other anomalies. Authors studied the phenotype distribution in a family over five generations. They found that this character is transmitted with an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance, and affected individuals are heterozygotes.     

复拇合并三指节拇指畸形家系的基因分析研究

目的 研究先天性复拇合并三指节拇指畸形的一个家系的临床表现及致病原因.方法 在患者家系调查的基础上,应用聚合酶链反应(PCR)技术对极化活性区(zone of polarizing activity,ZPA)调控序列进行扩增和测序分析.结果 体检发现,患者存在单侧或双侧拇指的复拇合并三指节拇指畸形,部分患者还可合并轴前和轴后的多指畸形.病因研究提示,在所有患者ZPA调控序列的第105位碱基对上发现了C→G的点突变.结论 复拇合并三指节拇指畸形家系患者由ZPA调控序列的第105位碱基对上C→G的点突变所致.     

Reduction osteotomy for triphalangeal thumb: an 11-year review.

Since 1977 we have operated on 13 of 15 triphalangeal thumbs in nine children (five boys, four girls). Follow-up ranged from 22 to 134 months (mean, 65 months). Total active motion averaged 63 degrees at the interphalangeal joint and 79 degrees at the metacarpophalangeal joint. There was no evidence of instability or laxity of ligaments. Reduction osteotomy was insufficient to shorten grossly long thumbs of two patients, and it was necessary to shorten the metacarpal. Premature closure of the phalangeal physis occurred in two thumbs but did not result in inadequate length; one postoperative pin-tract infection resulted in nonunion that required reoperation. This long-term experience supports reduction osteotomy for triphalangeal thumbs because it addresses the deformities and preserves both motion and stability.     

A classification system of radial polydactyly: inclusion of triphalangeal thumb and triplication

PURPOSE: Radial polydactyly is a congenital anomaly with a wide range of manifestations. Current classifications do not have the capacity to classify all different types of radial polydactyly when combined with triphalangeal components. The objective of this study was to test an adjusted classification and nomenclature that allows classification of triphalangeal components and triplication in radial polydactyly. METHODS: Patients from 1993 to 2006 with radial polydactyly (N = 104), a total of 121 affected hands, were identified from the hospital database. All x-rays were carefully examined and classified according to the existing classifications for radial polydactyly and a modified classification. In the modified nomenclature, Wassel's level of duplication is preserved. Type VII and VIII are assigned for partial or complete duplication of the carpal bones according to Buck-Gramcko. Triplication and triphalangeal components can be assigned to each type of radial polydactyly by suffixes. Symphalangism, deviation, and hypoplasia can also be classified. Triplication on different levels of the thumb is classified by determining and including the different types of the original Wassel classification. RESULTS: Eighteen thumbs could not be classified according to existing classifications for radial polydactyly with triphalangeal components or triplication. Using the proposed classification, all patients could be classified. CONCLUSIONS: We propose a modified classification that is a practical and utilitarian scheme for nomenclature of radial polydactyly and that may assist comparison of treatment outcomes and individual cases. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic II.     

The effect of the epiphyseal growth plate on the length of the first metacarpal in triphalangeal thumb

PURPOSE: Triphalangeal thumb is characterized as a congenital difference of the thumb with an extra phalanx. Additional thumb length is attributed mostly to the extra phalanx. The influence of the epiphyseal plate positions on growth in congenital hand anomalies is unclear. The purpose of this article was to compare the length of the first metacarpal in triphalangeal thumbs with the length of the same bone in normal thumbs and to investigate the influence of the often aberrant metacarpal epiphyseal plates on the length of the triphalangeal thumb metacarpal during growth. METHODS: The positions of the epiphyseal plate and the relative length of the first metacarpal were examined retrospectively in 37 patients with triphalangeal thumb. Ratios of the measurements were calculated (metacarpal II/metacarpal I) and compared with a normal population. Subjects were divided into 3 groups based on the position of the epiphyseal plate (double, proximal, distal). RESULTS: The distally placed growth plate was the most common variety, present in 22 of patients, followed by the proximal position in 14, and double epiphyseal plates in 6. All ratios of patients with triphalangeal thumb were significantly smaller than those of a normal population, indicating a longer first metacarpal in this condition. First metacarpals in triphalangeal thumb with double epiphyses grew disproportionately more than those of a normal population, whereas those with distal epiphyses grew disproportionately less than normal. First metacarpals with proximal epiphyses grew at the same rate as normal first metacarpals. CONCLUSIONS: In this study population the most common growth plate location was distal whereas the most common location in the normal population is proximal. The different positions of the epiphyseal plates correlate with growth differences in patients with triphalangeal thumb.     

Localization of dominantly inherited isolated triphalangeal thumb to chromosomal region 7q36.

Triphalangeal thumb is an autosomal dominantly inherited form of abnormal preaxial skeletal development. In most families, however, the triphalangeal thumb phenotype coexists with a spectrum of limb deformities, including polydactyly and syndactyly. We describe two Iowa kindreds with triphalangeal thumb. In one family, with nine affected members, triphalangeal thumb was the only manifestation of limb deformity. We performed linkage analysis on both pedigrees, demonstrating a maximum LOD score of 6.23 with marker D7S559 on chromosome 7q36. This corresponds to a previous study of a candidate region of 450 kb in which data from several families with preaxial polydactyly were employed. Further analysis of the unique family with isolated triphalangeal thumb in the current study may demonstrate allelic variability of the gene involved in these disorders.     

Three cases of syndactyly, polydactyly, and hypoplastic triphalangeal thumb: (Haas's malformation)

Three cases of a complex malformation of the hand involving syndactyly, polydactyly, and hypoplastic triphalangeal thumb are presented. In all three patients, six metacarpal bones and hypoplasticity of the thenar muscles were present. In one patient, both hands, except the most radial digits of the left hand, were completely fused by soft webs as reported by Haas and Ofodile. In two other patients, the extent of the webs differed from Haas's case, but one of them was similar to Ofodile's first case. In all instances the supernumerary digit had a triphalangeal configuration and the thenar muscles were hypoplastic, often associated with some degree of webbing.     

Treatment of mallet thumb

Two case reports of mallet thumb from closed injuries are presented. One patient was managed operatively and the other by conservative treatment. Both have regained excellent function.     

Treatment of the delta-phalanx of the adult thumb

Summary An adult with delta-phalanges of both thumbs was treated with removal of the supernumerary phalanx on one side and wedge osteotomy of the proximal phalanx on the other. The results show that wedge osteotomy of the proximal phalanx is the treatment of choice for this type of congenital deformity in adults.     

Treatment of adduction cicatricial contracture of the thumb

The authors discuss the results of treatment of 56 patients with adduction cicatricial contractures of the thumb which developed after severe mechanical, gunshot and thermal injuries. According to the degree of the deformity, 3 degrees of contractures are distinguished and each cells for certain therapeutic tactics. Various types of free and pedicle dermatoplasty and a method of dosed distraction by means of apparatuses designed in the clinic were employed. Among 40 patients who were examined 35 showed good functional and cosmetic results.