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Distraction Lengthening of the Ulna in Radial Club Hand Using the Ilizarov TechniqueFrom the Christine M. Kleinert Institute for Hand and Micro Surgery, Louisville, USA Correspondence: L. R. Scheker MD, Christine M. Kleinert Institute for Hand and Micro Surgery Inc, Suite 850, 225 Abraham Flexner Way, Louisville, Kentucky 40202, USA. Six children with radial club hand had distraction lengthening of the ulna using the Ilizarov technique at the mean age of 10 years. The mean lengthening achieved was 4.7 cm (46% of original ulna length). Complications included nocturnal pain, pin track infection and callus fracture or delayed union. Distraction lengthening of the ulna can enhance the ability to perform normal activities of daily living, such as reaching the perineum or driving a car, but complications are extremely common. The high rate of callus fracture in this series reinforces the need for regular radiographic review during distraction and suggests that after distraction it may take more than 4 weeks for satisfactory callus consolidation before removal of the fixator.
Journal of Hand Surgery (British and European Volume), Vol. 23, No. 2,
186-191 (1998) |
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