Management of congenital radial club hand by gradual correction

Introduction Severe congenital radial club hand is aesthetically unacceptable. This paper represents our experience in treating early and late diagnosed cases using gradual distraction by Ilizarov external fixator. Methods We treated 34 cases of congenital radial club hand with an age ranged from 1 to 15 years. There were 20 girls and eight bilateral cases. Three had been treated on both sides. So, we have treated 37 limbs. Nine cases had been operated before. Centralization alone was done in 12 cases and followed by lengthening in eight cases. Ulnar lengthening and gradual correction of wrist deformities were done for the rest of cases. The patients were followed clinically and radiographically with the following parameters: hand forearm angle, range of motion, daily functional activities, extent of lengthening achieved, and cosmetic improvement. Results The follow up ranged from 1 to 10 years. The magnitude of lengthening achieved ranged from 5 to 11 cm. The average healing index was 52.02 days/cm with cosmetic appearance satisfaction in all cases. Complications included; pin tract infection in 24 cases, flexion contractures of the elbow and fingers in 26 cases [which mostly disappeared during follow up], and spontaneous ulnocarpal fusion in 2 cases. Two cases suffered fracture in the regenerate zone. Conclusions The use of the Ilizarov method with gradual distraction of bone and soft tissues in treatment of radial club hand was effective in forearm lengthening with functional and cosmetic improvement.