Upper extremity anomalies are the second most common type of congenital malformations. Approximately 1% to 3% of newborns are born with congenital anomalies, and among them, roughly 10% have upper extremity anomalies. Congenital hand anomalies are often isolated phenomena but may also coexist with other congenital anomalies or syndromes. These anomalies cause not only aesthetic concerns, but also significant functional deficits and psychological issues for children and their families. Surgeons should conduct a thorough examination to make an accurate diagnosis and provide appropriate treatment or refer the patient to a specialized clinic if necessary. Operative procedures should aim to restore both function and aesthetics. This article reviews the embryology of the hand, the classification of congenital hand anomalies, and the clinical features and treatment of common major congenital hand anomalies.

Upper extremity anomalies are the second most common type of congenital malformations. Approximately 1% to 3% of newborns are born with congenital anomalies, and among them, roughly 10% have upper extremity anomalies. Congenital hand anomalies are often isolated phenomena but may also coexist with other congenital anomalies or syndromes. These anomalies cause not only aesthetic concerns, but also significant functional deficits and psychological issues for children and their families. Surgeons should conduct a thorough examination to make an accurate diagnosis and provide appropriate treatment or refer the patient to a specialized clinic if necessary. Operative procedures should aim to restore both function and aesthetics. This article reviews the embryology of the hand, the classification of congenital hand anomalies, and the clinical features and treatment of common major congenital hand anomalies.

Upper extremity anomalies are the second most common type of congenital malformations. Approximately 1% to 3% of newborns are born with congenital anomalies, and among them, roughly 10% have upper extremity anomalies. Congenital hand anomalies are often isolated phenomena but may also coexist with other congenital anomalies or syndromes. These anomalies cause not only aesthetic concerns, but also significant functional deficits and psychological issues for children and their families. Surgeons should conduct a thorough examination to make an accurate diagnosis and provide appropriate treatment or refer the patient to a specialized clinic if necessary. Operative procedures should aim to restore both function and aesthetics. This article reviews the embryology of the hand, the classification of congenital hand anomalies, and the clinical features and treatment of common major congenital hand anomalies.

Upper extremity anomalies are the second most common type of congenital malformations. Approximately 1% to 3% of newborns are born with congenital anomalies, and among them, roughly 10% have upper extremity anomalies. Congenital hand anomalies are often isolated phenomena but may also coexist with other congenital anomalies or syndromes. These anomalies cause not only aesthetic concerns, but also significant functional deficits and psychological issues for children and their families. Surgeons should conduct a thorough examination to make an accurate diagnosis and provide appropriate treatment or refer the patient to a specialized clinic if necessary. Operative procedures should aim to restore both function and aesthetics. This article reviews the embryology of the hand, the classification of congenital hand anomalies, and the clinical features and treatment of common major congenital hand anomalies.

Paraffin injection has been widely used to improve body contouring or to augment various body parts, although it has now been abandoned owing to serious complications. Paraffin injection may lead to complications after a long latency period, ranging from several years to several decades. Here, we present the rare case of a 77-year-old woman who suffered from recurrent wound problems after a bilateral paraffin injection into her hands 40 years ago. Initially, conservative debridement was carried out due to the patient’s reluctance to undergo extensive surgery and cost concerns. However, this resulted in recurrent wound dehiscence and infection. After serial debridement procedures, a skin graft was performed on her right hand. The patient complained of a depressed contour and numbness at the skin graft site, and tightness and discomfort of her right hand during flexion of the metacarpophalangeal joint. Three years later, the patient presented with a highly similar wound on her left hand. Thorough excision of the soft tissue infiltrated by paraffin was performed, followed by reconstruction using a sensate free anterolateral thigh flap. The patient responded well postoperatively without complications, displaying a fair range of motion without discomfort, sensory restoration of the flap, and satisfaction with the contour of the dorsum. This case report highlights the importance of complete excision of soft tissues infiltrated by paraffin for definitive treatment. Among the various reconstruction options, a sensate free flap is a good choice for achieving favorable functional and esthetic outcomes in hand reconstruction after radical excision of a paraffinoma.

Paraffin injection has been widely used to improve body contouring or to augment various body parts, although it has now been abandoned owing to serious complications. Paraffin injection may lead to complications after a long latency period, ranging from several years to several decades. Here, we present the rare case of a 77-year-old woman who suffered from recurrent wound problems after a bilateral paraffin injection into her hands 40 years ago. Initially, conservative debridement was carried out due to the patient’s reluctance to undergo extensive surgery and cost concerns. However, this resulted in recurrent wound dehiscence and infection. After serial debridement procedures, a skin graft was performed on her right hand. The patient complained of a depressed contour and numbness at the skin graft site, and tightness and discomfort of her right hand during flexion of the metacarpophalangeal joint. Three years later, the patient presented with a highly similar wound on her left hand. Thorough excision of the soft tissue infiltrated by paraffin was performed, followed by reconstruction using a sensate free anterolateral thigh flap. The patient responded well postoperatively without complications, displaying a fair range of motion without discomfort, sensory restoration of the flap, and satisfaction with the contour of the dorsum. This case report highlights the importance of complete excision of soft tissues infiltrated by paraffin for definitive treatment. Among the various reconstruction options, a sensate free flap is a good choice for achieving favorable functional and esthetic outcomes in hand reconstruction after radical excision of a paraffinoma.

Paraffin injection has been widely used to improve body contouring or to augment various body parts, although it has now been abandoned owing to serious complications. Paraffin injection may lead to complications after a long latency period, ranging from several years to several decades. Here, we present the rare case of a 77-year-old woman who suffered from recurrent wound problems after a bilateral paraffin injection into her hands 40 years ago. Initially, conservative debridement was carried out due to the patient’s reluctance to undergo extensive surgery and cost concerns. However, this resulted in recurrent wound dehiscence and infection. After serial debridement procedures, a skin graft was performed on her right hand. The patient complained of a depressed contour and numbness at the skin graft site, and tightness and discomfort of her right hand during flexion of the metacarpophalangeal joint. Three years later, the patient presented with a highly similar wound on her left hand. Thorough excision of the soft tissue infiltrated by paraffin was performed, followed by reconstruction using a sensate free anterolateral thigh flap. The patient responded well postoperatively without complications, displaying a fair range of motion without discomfort, sensory restoration of the flap, and satisfaction with the contour of the dorsum. This case report highlights the importance of complete excision of soft tissues infiltrated by paraffin for definitive treatment. Among the various reconstruction options, a sensate free flap is a good choice for achieving favorable functional and esthetic outcomes in hand reconstruction after radical excision of a paraffinoma.

Paraffin injection has been widely used to improve body contouring or to augment various body parts, although it has now been abandoned owing to serious complications. Paraffin injection may lead to complications after a long latency period, ranging from several years to several decades. Here, we present the rare case of a 77-year-old woman who suffered from recurrent wound problems after a bilateral paraffin injection into her hands 40 years ago. Initially, conservative debridement was carried out due to the patient’s reluctance to undergo extensive surgery and cost concerns. However, this resulted in recurrent wound dehiscence and infection. After serial debridement procedures, a skin graft was performed on her right hand. The patient complained of a depressed contour and numbness at the skin graft site, and tightness and discomfort of her right hand during flexion of the metacarpophalangeal joint. Three years later, the patient presented with a highly similar wound on her left hand. Thorough excision of the soft tissue infiltrated by paraffin was performed, followed by reconstruction using a sensate free anterolateral thigh flap. The patient responded well postoperatively without complications, displaying a fair range of motion without discomfort, sensory restoration of the flap, and satisfaction with the contour of the dorsum. This case report highlights the importance of complete excision of soft tissues infiltrated by paraffin for definitive treatment. Among the various reconstruction options, a sensate free flap is a good choice for achieving favorable functional and esthetic outcomes in hand reconstruction after radical excision of a paraffinoma.