Short arm and hand deficiency- phocomelia or longitudinal deficiency?

Phocomelia is Greek for ‘seal limb’, a descriptive term for a short, deficient arm (or leg).  I have previously posted on this topic HERE.   For many years, patients with a really short arm were diagnosed with phocomelia as it became a ‘wastebasket’ term for such patients.  However, the term should be used in patients with an […]

Hand Limitations in Ulnar Longitudinal Deficiency

My mentor, Paul Manske, clarified years ago that the hand is often the greatest limitation for children with ulnar longitudinal deficiency in this classic ARTICLE.  And, as I have previous blogged HERE, the hand limitations can manifest in many different ways.  There are many different ways this presents in ulnar longitudinal deficiency including: thumb and index finger webspace tightness, […]

Ulnar Deficiency- Thumb Rotation

I have posted a number of times about both ulnar longitudinal deficiency and thumb anomalies.     As previously noted, in ulnar longitudinal deficiency, we more commonly offer surgery for the hand compared to the forearm.  The forearm rotation abnormality is usually something that kids can adapt to as the shoulder offers so much compensatory motion.  The hand is, […]

Ulnar Deficiency and Syndactyly

Ulnar deficiency (or ulnar longitudinal deficiency) is much less common that radial deficiency, possibly only 1 case of ulnar deficiency per 10 of radial deficiency.  And it is much different in the problems that it may cause.  The forearm abnormality can include a deficient or absent ulna and flexor muscles BUT, it is much better […]

Thumb position and the 3 digit hand

I have posted on thumb rotation and if you search the blog, you will find a number of posts on ulnar longitudinal deficiency.  Scrolling through the pictures, a pattern begins to develop in these kids with ulnar longitudinal deficiency– that is, many of the kids have a well developed thumb and 2 very good fingers. When we think […]

Wrist Deviation

Radial deficiency and ulnar deficiency are, for most children, easily distinguished.  Radial deficiency, a condition about which I have blogged about on numerous occasions- see here – presents with a problem on the radial (thumb) side of the forearm and hand (mainly the thumb).  The radius bone can be absent or limited and the extensor muscles are […]