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J Reconstr Microsurg 2001; 17(1): 009-016
DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-12683
Copyright © 2001 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA. Tel.: +1(212) 584-4662

Microsurgical Reconstruction of the Hypoplastic Thumb, Type IIIB

Guy Foucher, Jose Medina, Ricardo Navarro
  • SOS Main Strasbourg, France
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Publication History

Publication Date:
31 December 2001 (online)

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ABSTRACT

If a classically hypoplastic thumb, type IIIA, presenting with a first carpometacarpal joint, is amenable to reconstruction, a type IIIB case without the basal joint, is classically treated by pollicization. The authors concur with this opinion, but found two circumstances in which reconstruction is an option in a type IIIB thumb, either when an adolescent asks for improvement of an unstable but utilized thumb, or when a parent definitely refuses pollicization. In such cases, a free, vascularized metatarsophalangeal joint is the first step of the reconstruction, followed by classic non-microsurgical steps. The authors reviewed five cases, with a mean follow-up of 7.8 years. Hypoplasia of the reconstructed thumb, and a limited pinch, allow this option only with restricted indications.

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