Cleidocranial Dysplasia

Cleidocranial dysplasia is a rare birth condition most notable for the lack of collarbones (or small collarbones- clavicles).  While this is recognizable, other findings include abnormalities of the teeth as well as delaying closing of the fontanelles (skull bone deficits).  This is an autosomal dominant condition related to the RUNX2 gene but importantly, it is […]

Hypoplastic Thumb Reconstruction

Patients with a small thumb- a hypoplastic thumb- often have functional limitations due to limited muscle development and a lack of joint stability.  Therapy is always the first line of treatment but is often unsuccessful with this anomaly.  We therefore often proceed with surgical reconstruction.  I have previously blogged about the surgical choices and recently […]

Thumb Reconstruction in Action

My favorite day of the month is our ‘big’ clinic at the Shriners where my partner and I see patients all day (no surgery).  It is such a pleasure to see new and followup patients with so many different rare conditions.  I learn at each of these clinics because patients show me (and sometimes tell […]