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Distraction Lengthening of Thumb Metacarpal

From the Division of Plastic, Reconstructive, Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA

Correspondence: Dr L. Scott Levin, MD, FACS, Division of Plastic, Reconstructive, Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery, Professor of Plastic and Orthopaedic Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3945, Durham, NC 27710, USA. Tel.: +1-919-684-2472; Fax: +1-919-681-7340; E-mail: levin001{at}mc.duke.edu

The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of distraction lengthening of the thumb metacarpal without bone grafting in seven patients with traumatic thumb loss. The distraction was stopped after 57 (range, 42 to 91) days, giving a median lengthening of 28 (range, 20–36) mm. It took an average of 155 (range, 118–196) days for bony consolidation to occur. The mean pinch power was 72% of that of the uninjured hand. The two-point discrimination on the pulp of the reconstructed thumb was 10 (range, 8–12) mm. There were no major complications.

Key Words: distraction lengthening • thumb metacarpal • pinch power

Journal of Hand Surgery (British and European Volume), Vol. 29, No. 1, 71-75 (2004)
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhsb.2003.08.001


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