Abstract

SALLES BETANCOURT, Guido; BETANCOURT FERRER, Ismael; PENA MARRERO, Livan  and  MARRERO RIVERON, Luis Oscar. Surgical treatment of bifid thumb. Rev Cubana Ortop Traumatol [online]. 2005, vol.19, n.2, pp. 0-0. ISSN 1561-3100.

A quasi-experimental study of 15 patients aged 18 months to 7 years, who were admitted to "Frank País" International Scientific Orthopedic Center from January 2001 to December 2002 because of a diagnosis of bifid thumb at different degrees according to Wassel´s radiological classification, was performed. Preoperative assessment included presence of associated malformations, level of opposition, strength of digital clamping, pain evolution and thumb mobility, function and stability of the thumb, the scar condition, thumb sensitivity and level of deformity. The patients were operated on according to the level of existing deformity; Bihaut-Cloquet´s technique was used for grade I and II deformities; Lam, Marks and Baine technique for grades III, IV, V and VI and Peiner´s technique for grade VII deformity, that is, triphalangeal thumb. The patients were followed-up on outpatient service for 6 months as minimum and 2 years as maximum. 60 % of patients were males and 60 % were under 2 years of age. 13,3 % presented with associated congenital anomaly. Grade IV of bifid thumb according to Wassel´s classification was the most frequent. 86,6 % of patients showed good results whereas 13,4 % had regular results. The study demonstrated that treated under five-years-old patients showed better results than those of older children. Congenital malformations had no effect on the results. The relatives of 80 % of patients observed functional as well as aesthetical improvement in the thumb; 2 patients experienced aesthetical improvement only and one patient exhibited functional improvement. Twenty percent of patients had some kind of complications related to the age of the patient, the time of operation and the type of bifid thumb.

Keywords : bifid thumb; surgical treatment,; congenital anomalies.

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