Back to Index Radial Aplasia and Distraction Lengthening Radial Deficiency and the Role of Distraction Lengthening Publishers, Inc. Vol. 16, No. 3. Printed in U.S.A. William P. Cooney, M.D. and Mark T. Dahl, M.D. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota and Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children, Minneapolis, Minnesota From Bayne LG, Klug MS. J Hand Surg 1987;12A:169-179. Table 1. Radial aplasia classification Type l: Short radius: delayed appearance, thumb aplasia Type Il: Hypoplastic radius: small short radius; decreased growth rate Type llI: Partial absence radius: hand radial angulation; ulna hypertrophy Type IV: Total absence of radius: severe radial angulation first stage of soft-tissue lengthening and in the older patients, distraction will be in the late stages for combined soft-tissue, bone, and angular deformity corrections. METHODS AND MATERIALS In the older patients (ages 10 to 14 years), the Ilizarov frame was the primary method for correction of the limb length and/or angulation deformity (Table 2). The latter provided both 1) repositioning (after lengthening) of the carpus in patients that had recurrence of radial angulation (palmer-radial) and 2) ulna osteotomy and lengthening, which corrected forearm bowing. Two- or three-ring Ilizarov constructs were used in these two patients. By design, both patients were older with sufficient limb size to accept the Ilizarov system. Smaller frames of light-weight polycarbons are in planning stages, which would extend three-dimensional concepts to younger patients. | |
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