Thumb duplication — "simplicity but not simple"
10.3760/cma.j.cn114453-20200525-00318
- VernacularTitle:多拇指畸形——"简约而不简单"
- Author:
Xiaofei TIAN
1
;
Shanlin CHEN
Author Information
1. 重庆医科大学附属儿童医院烧伤整形外科 400014
- Keywords:
Thumb duplication;
Deformity;
Reconstruction
- From:
Chinese Journal of Plastic Surgery
2020;36(7):707-720
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Thumb duplication is one of the most common congenital limb deformities and clinical manifestations vary with malformations in multiple structures. A comprehensive and accurate assessment of abnormal structure and severity is more important than classification before the operation. The principle of surgery is to remove the unwanted structure, keep the useful parts, and reconstruct a good-looking thumb with acceptable functions. There are two major surgical techniques: "excision and reconstruction procedure" , and "combined procedure" . At present, the etiology research of thumb duplication has made considerable progress but its pathogenesis remains unclear. The classifications are still not good enough to guide the treatment and evaluate the outcome in clinical practice. For complex polythumb deformity, the treatment result are far from expected. And this "simple" deformity remains a challenge for surgeons. This article was written on the basis of many classic literatures and the author’s experiences in the treatment of more than 3 000 cases of thumb duplication. The treatment principles of the vast majority of thumb duplication and refinement of the operation details were summarized and we hoped that it could be helpful to doctors with related specialties who often dealed with polythumb deformity.
