The use of costal cartilage as a spacer in the treatment of congenital metacarpal fusion

Summary A case is reported in which a congenital metacarpal synostosis was corrected by splitting the synostosis and inserting an intermetacarpal costal cartilage graft. Costal cartilage does not tend to be absorbed with time and seems to be a more effective and safer spacer in the long term. Use of costal cartilage as a spacer may be of benefit in similar cases in hand surgery.