title: Techniques for small-bone lengthening in congenital anomalies of the hand and foot.
abstract: The purpose of this study is to analyse three different lengthening techniques used in 31 small bones for congenital malformations of the hand and foot: 15 metacarpals, 12 metatarsals, 1 foot stump and 3 spaces between a previously transplanted phalanx end of the carpus or the metacarpal. Progressive lengthening with an external fixator device was performed in 23 cases: the callus distraction (callotasis) technique was used in 15 cases, whereas in the other 8 cases the speed of lengthening was faster and the defect bridged with a bone graft as a second stage. In another eight cases, a one-stage lengthening was performed. In the callotasis group, the total length gained ranged from 9 mm to 30 mm and the percentage of lengthening obtained (compared with the initial bone length) averaged 53.4%; in the fast lengthening group, the length gained ranged from 8 mm to 15 mm, and the average percentage of lengthening was 53.1%; and in the one-stage group, the length gained ranged from 7 mm to 15 mm, and the average percentage of lengthening was 43%. The overall complication rate was 22.5%.
authors.affiliation: Unidad Malformaciones de las Extremidades, Centro Médico Teknon, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Minguella
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cabrera
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Escolá
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001852:Bone Lengthening / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005532:Foot Deformities, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006228:Hand Deformities, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008663:Metacarpus / Q000601:surgery*; D019857:Osteogenesis, Distraction; D011859:Radiography