Abstract
We reviewed 14 patients who underwent thumb lengthening over a four-year-period. Lengthening was performed for terminal deficiency in nine patients and for segmental bone loss in five.
The callotasis method was used in eight patients and the Matev method in six. In all patients, the Orthofix mini-external fixator was used as the distracting device.
Final gains in length ranged from 22 mm to 36 mm. The mean fixator application time was 89 days (68 to115). Complications included one malunion, one over-lengthening, two pin migrations through bone and four cases of pin-tract sepsis. There were no skin or neurovascular complications.
These techniques are safe and provide useful alternatives to other methods of thumb reconstruction.
The abstracts were prepared by Professor M. B. E. Sweet. Correspondence should be addressed to him at The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Medical School, University of Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown, Johannesburg, 2193 South Africa
