title: Distraction lengthening of thumb metacarpal.
abstract: The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of distraction lengthening of the thumb metacarpal without bone grafting in seven patients with traumatic thumb loss. The distraction was stopped after 57 (range, 42 to 91) days, giving a median lengthening of 28 (range, 20-36)mm. It took an average of 155 (range, 118-196) days for bony consolidation to occur. The mean pinch power was 72% of that of the uninjured hand. The two-point discrimination on the pulp of the reconstructed thumb was 10 (range, 8-12)mm. There were no major complications.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic, Reconstructive, Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Heitmann
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Levin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008663:Metacarpus / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019857:Osteogenesis, Distraction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013933:Thumb / Q000601:surgery*