For some kids with Radial Longitudinal Deficiency, the surgery succeeds in balancing the wrist and the alignment is maintained but for others, the deformity recurs. And by deformity, typically we mean both radial deviation (wrist and hand angle towards thumb) and flexion (bending down) of the wrist. There have been many different techniques utilized to try to prevent recurrence of deformity. These attempts include using a toe (with joint) including its blood supply to provide thumb sided support to the wrist. This broadens the platform for the wrist and may help prevent recurrence. However, this procedure is technically complicated and requires the sacrifice a toe without certain improvement in the long term.
An additional technique to minimize recurrence in Radial Longitudinal Deficiency is to use an external fixator prior to centralization. This stretches the soft tissues and makes the centralization more straightforward and balanced and seems to prevent recurrence. We have discussed this previously at http://congenitalhand.wustl.edu/2012/05/fixator-for-radial-longitudinal.html .
Ultimately, in those kids that do have severe recurrence after centralization, a fusion of the wrist can be a very effective procedure. Usually this procedure has to be delayed until at least age 12 when there is enough bone for the fusion. While the procedure sounds scary, it has many positives (by improving the position) and very few negatives (related to a loss of some motion- motion which is limited anyway). We like this procedure very much in certain kids.
Here are some clinical pictures showing recurrent deformity in an 8 year old with radial longitudinal deficiency.
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Radial Longitudinal Deficiency which has recurred. |
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Close up of recurrent Radial Longitudinal Deficiency. Note the marked radial deviation of at least 70 degrees. |
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Radial Longitudinal Deficiency with recurrence with flexion of the wrist. |
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Radial Longitudinal Deficiency, recurrent. Note that the index finger has not been pollicized as there is very poor motion of the index finger. |
More information is always available through our website at http://ortho.wustl.edu/content/Patient-Care/3220/SERVICES/Hand-Wrist/Congenital-Hand-Disorders.aspx
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