J Korean Orthop Assoc.  2000 Apr;35(2):283-288.

Pollicization of Patients with more than Buck-Gramcko Grade IV Congenital Hypoplasia of the Thumb

• Chung MS
• Baek GH
• Kim WJ
• Kim JH
• Nam WD
• Shin JH

Abstract

PURPOSE
Thumb hypoplasia gives rise to various derangement of hand functions, leading to various degrees of malformation. The treatment of choice for grade IV or V congenital hypoplasia of the thumb, classified by Buck-Gramcko's criteria, is the pollicization of the index finger. The purpose of this article is to review the clinical usefulness of pollicization for more than grade IV hypoplasia.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Three grade IV and 3 grade V hypoplastic thumbs in 6 patients, one with radial club hand, were reviewed retrospectively. They underwent pollicization between 1987 and 1997. The index metacarpi were osteotomized for shortening and readjusted by pronation. To evaluate postoperative function, authors used the criteria of Sundararaj and Mani.
RESULTS
Except for the exclusion of one patient, four had excellent and one had good functional statuses.
CONCLUSION
Pollicization was considered to be worthwhile for functional improvement of the hands in more than grade IV congenital hypoplasia of the thumb.

Keyword

Thumb hypoplasia; Pollicization; Grade IV; Grade V

MeSH Terms

Fingers
Hand
Humans
Pronation
Retrospective Studies
Thumb*