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Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of soft tissue balance technique by flexor pollicis longus (FPL) tendon transfer for Wassel Ⅳ-D thumb duplication in children., Methods: A clinical data of 14 children with Wassel Ⅳ-D thumb duplication met the selection criteria between January 2017 and January 2021 was retrospectively analyzed. There were 5 boys and 9 girls with an average age of 21.6 months (range, 18-35 months). Ten cases were left hand deformity and 4 cases were right hand deformity. During operation, the radial thumb was excised, and the FPL tendon of the radial thumb was used to reconstruct the soft tissue balance of the ulnar thumb. Postoperative evaluation included the range of motion (ROM) of passive flexion and extension of the interphalangeal joint (IP) and metacarpophalangeal joint (MCP), the alignments of the IP and MCP, the percentage of the width of the nail plate and the circumference of the thumb at the level of the IP to contralateral thumb., Results: All operations were completed successfully, and all incisions healed by first intention. The children were followed up 12-36 months (mean, 21.7 months). At last follow-up, the ROM of passive flexion and the deviation of the IP, and the deviation of the MCP significantly improved when compared with those before operation ( P <0.05); the ROM of passive extension of the IP and the ROM of passive flexion of the MCP did not significantly improve when compared with those before operation ( P >0.05). The ROMs of passive extension of the MCP were 0° before and after operation. The width of the nail plate was 76.6%±4.1% of the unaffected side, and the circumference of the thumb at the level of the IP was 92.0%±9.1% of the unaffected side., Conclusion: The soft tissue balance technique by FPL tendon trasfer can effectively correct the alignment of the Wassel Ⅳ-D thumb duplication in children, and maintain the correction effect effectively, but further follow-up and comprehensive evaluation are needed to investigate the long-term effectiveness.

Objective: To explore the effectiveness of one-stage metacarpal osteotomy, thumb opponensplasty and polygonal flap reconstruction in the treatment of congenital spade hand deformity., Methods: Eight cases of congenital spade hand were treated between January 2013 and March 2017. There were 5 males and 3 females, with an average age of 17.5 months (range, 13-35 months). The clinical manifestations of all the children were congenital spade hand and the affected hand was shorter than the healthy side. The contralateral hand was normal and there was no chest, skull, or facial deformity. The operation was performed with metacarpal osteotomy and thumb opponensplasty, and through the dorsal metacarpal rectangular flap to reconstruct the first web and through rotation of polygonal skin flap to reconstruct thumb web and lateral fold of thumb index nail. The dorsal ulnar and proximal radial segment of thumb were repaired by skin grafting. A vernier caliper was used to measure the first web space and the thumb function was evaluated by modified Tada score., Results: The reconstruction of palmar function and the formation of first web were completed in one stage in 8 children. Skin grafting on the dorsal ulnar side of thumb and radial side of index finger survived after operation. All the children were followed up 13-29 months, with an average of 16.1 months. There was no infection, skin flap necrosis, lateral deviation of thumb, scar contracture, or other complications. At last follow-up, there was no significant difference in skin color between the healthy side and the first web of the affected hand. The opening distance of first web space was 3.5-5.0 cm, with an average of 4.2 cm. According to the modified Tada scoring system, the results were excellent in 7 cases and good in 1 case, with an excellent and good rate of 100%. The thumb could grasp and pinch actively, and the palm opposition function was good., Conclusion: One-stage thumb opponensplasty combined with polygonal flap for reconstruction of congenital spade hand deformity can improve hand function very well. The reasonable designing of skin flap can effectively cover important areas, and the operation is safe and reliable.

Objective: To study the effectiveness of surgical treatment of congenital type V thumb syndactyly., Methods: Between March 2010 and May 2015, 12 cases of congenital type V thumb syndactyly were treated. There were 7 males and 5 females, aged from 1 to 25 years (mean, 8 years). The right thumb was involved in 8 cases, and the left thumb in 4 cases. There were 2 cases of radial type, and 10 cases of ulnar type. The basement of polydactylism was far away from the carpometacarpal joint in 7 cases, and was close to the carpometacarpal joint in 5 cases (slight ulnar deviation in 1 case). X-ray films showed that the main first thumb metacarpal bone and trapezium fitted well, and 2 cases had the first metacarpal bone deformity. Preoperative individualized treatment plan was made, and polydactylism was excised by the "S" or "Z" incision and simultaneous reconstruction of thenar muscle insertions or adductor muscle insertions was performed; if necessary, wedge osteotomy was used for correction., Results: All incisions healed by first intention with no complication. All cases were followed up 6 to 24 months (mean, 12 months). The thumb appearance, flexion and extension, the function of opposition, abduction function were improved significantly in 11 cases with no scar contracture deformity, small first web space, and deviation deformity. One case had slightly narrow first web space. According to hand function criterion, the results were excellent in 10 cases, good in 1 case, poor in 1 case; excellent and good rate was 91.7%., Conclusions: Based on the condition of the type V thumb syndactyly, the individualized treatment plan is made, which can better restore the shape and function of the thumb.

Objective: To study the causes and treatment of postoperative deviation secondary to thumb duplication resection., Methods: Between February 2007 and June 2013, 32 cases (33 thumbs) of postoperative deviation secondary to thumb duplication resection were treated, and the clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. There were 13 males and 19 females, aged 2-34 years (median, 8 years). The left thumbs were involved in 7 cases, the right thumbs in 24 cases, and bilateral thumbs in 1 case. Of 33 thumbs, 2 were rated as type II, 4 as type III, 10 as type IV, 7 as type V, and 10 as type VII according to Wassel classification. The average time between duplicated thumb resection and admission was 6.5 years (range, 1-29 years). Nine thumbs only had ulnar deviation of the metacarpophalangeal (MP) joint; 8 thumbs only had radial deviation of the interphalangeal (IP) joint; 10 thumbs only had ulnar deviation of the IP joint; and 6 thumbs had ulnar deviation of the MP joint combined with radial deviation of the IP joint. The mean deviation degree of the MP joint was 32.3 (range, 20-40*), and the mean deviation degree of the IP joint was 42.5° (range, 30-110°). Operation methods were chosen specially according to the deformity, including remnant bone or cartilage resection, restoring normal alignment, and soft tissue balance., Results: All wounds got first stage healing and there was no complication associated with operation. Postoperative follow-up period ranged from 6 to 70 months (mean, 34 months). The skeleton alignment of the thumbs was improved on the X-ray images; all osteotomy got union at 5-10 weeks (mean, 6 weeks). Deviation was completely corrected in 31 thumbs; the preoperative deviation degree was too large to correct completely in 2 thumbs with a postoperative deviation degree of 10°. The motion degree was similar to that at preoperation in 13 thumbs; the motion degree decreased in 20 thumbs, which did not affect the function of the thumbs. Nineteen cases (20 thumbs) were followed more than 2 years, there was no recurrence of deviation and all thumbs developed well, but the size of affected thumb was smaller than that of the contralateral side in 14 cases (14 thumbs)., Conclusion: Getting good result and preventing postoperative deviation for thumb duplication resection acquires appropriate preoperative design, reconstruction of the insertion of the abductor poll icis brevis, transposition of the flexor and extensor pollicis longus insertion, and essential osteotomy play important roles in preventing postoperative deviation after thumb duplication resection. Individualized treatment plan for deviation should be made according to the degree and the cause of deviation.

Objective: To investigate the etiology of the flexor contracture of the hand, to diagnose and to explore its surgical treatment., Methods: From May 1997 to June 2004, 212 cases of flexor contraction of the hand were treated with scar excision, thorough loosening the contracture, covering the secondary skin defects with free skin grafting, "Z"-plasty, double "V-Y" plasty, transposition of the palmar dorsum flap of the hand and iliac-inguinal flap. There were 163 males and 49 females, whose ages ranged from 3 to 61. There were 85 cases of left hands, 54 cases of right hands, and 73 cases of both hands. Contracture sites were as follow: 117 cases were in fingers, 32 cases located in palms and 63 cases were in both. Causes of deformity were as follow: 29 cases derived from burn and explosion, 127 cases came from contracture of palmar aponeurosis, 31 cases were because of traffic accident and machine extrusion, 5 cases for getting an electric shock, 14 cases for improper postoperative immobility, and 6 cases for other reasons. Course of diseases lasted for 2 to 24 months., Results: 149 cases were followed up for 4 to 30 months. One fingertip was in necrosis and ended in nub plasty because of inappropriate time to leave hospital. Flexion contracture recurred in 7 cases, skin necrosis occurred to 3 cases whose scars were healed in the end, poor restoration of function was observed in 2 children patients for lack of exercise, and 2 skins contracted after free cut skin grafting. Others got satisfactory results., Conclusion: Once the pathogenesis and contracture factors are clearly known, timing and correct surgical measures are chosen, thorough contracture is loosened, and early postoperative exercises are performed, good effect will be achieved.