title: Distraction osteogenesis in the hand.
abstract: Distraction osteogenesis was used to correct congenital hand deformities in 12 digits. The patients' ages at the time of distraction ranged between 2.5 and 7 years. A total of nine patients underwent lengthening of 12 bones. The average period of distraction was 31.1 +/- 17.6 days. The average length of distraction was 23.6 +/- 7.3 mm. Seventeen percent of the patients after lengthening had an angular deformity that required remodeling of the regenerate. No infections were noted. Distraction osteogenesis provides a useful tool for reliable and predictable correction of osseous defects with vascular bone in patients with congenital anomalies of the hand.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Ill 60611, USA.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pensler
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Carroll
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000168:Acrocephalosyndactylia / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001858:Bone Nails; D001861:Bone Regeneration; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016267:External Fixators; D005385:Fingers / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D008663:Metacarpus / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000601:surgery; D019857:Osteogenesis, Distraction / Q000295:instrumentation; D010027:Osteotomy; D012086:Reoperation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013933:Thumb / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors