Surgical Treatment of Intrinsic Plus Deformity of the Hand

Baek, Goo Hyun; Chung, Moon Sang; Song, Keum Young

Abstract

Intrinsic plus deformity, which results in severe functional impairment of the hand, is caused by contracture of intrinsic muscles. This deformity can be resulted from many causes such as ischemic damage, spasm of intrinsic muscles, thermal injury, and so on. The surgical release of tightened intrinsic muscles, may be the only solution to make usable hand, especially for severe cases. Sixty five digits in 22 patients who were operated on from 1982 to 1992, were evaluated retrospectively, to analyse the effects of surgery for intrinsic plus hand. Among 65 digits, 13 were thumbs and 52 fingers. The mean age of the patients was 26 years and 8 months and 17 cases were males and 6 females. The causes were ischemic damage by laceration or crushing injuries in 11 patients, compartment syndrome in 5, cerebral palsy in 5, and burn in one. Involved digits were thumb only in 4 patients, thumb and fingers in 9, and fingers in nine. All the digits were classified preoperatively by Zancolli's classification. In 13 thumbs retropulsion contracture was 4 and adduction-antepulsion contracture was nine. All of the thumbs were treated by intrinsic release and Z plasty(or rotational flap). Other procedures including arthrolysis, arthrodesis and tendon reconstruction were combined in 9 thumbs. In 52 fingers, in addition to distal release, arthrolysis was combined in 12 fingers, and arthrolysis plus volar plate release were combined in 4 fingers. For the assessment, our criteria, based on subjective satisfaction of the patient and range of motion, was used. The duration of follow up was from one year to 9 years with the average of 26 months. In 14 thumbs the results were excellent in 2, 6 good, 4 fair, and one poor. In 52 fingers excellent was 12, 24 good, 13 fair, and 3 poor. In summary we could improve the function of intrinsic plus deformity by appropriate sugery, and their results were good.