title: Surgical method for treatment of syndactyly with osseous fusion of the distal phalanges.
abstract: For the interdigital space plasty to correct a syndactyly with fusion of the distal phalanges, we adopted a new operative procedure, covering the exposed distal bone with local rectangular flaps designed transversely on both dorsal and volar surfaces. A full-thickness skin graft from the groin region covers the remaining raw surface. The procedure was performed in six patients, and the flaps measured 6 mm (width) x 12 to 16 mm (length) in four patients, 5 x 15 mm in one patient, and 5 x 18 mm in one patient. Partial necrosis was observed in only one patient, in whom a narrow flap of 5 x 18 mm was used. In the other five patients, however, the results were satisfactory on both external appearance and function during the follow-up period of 3 to 6 years.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sugihara
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohura
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Umeda
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006119:Groin; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009999:Ossification, Heterotopic / Q000601:surgery; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D013518:Surgery, Plastic / Q000379:methods*; D013576:Syndactyly / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*