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A variant of mirror hand: a case report
Kumar Bhaskaranand1, Nalini Bhaskaranand, Anil K Bhat
1Department of Orthopaedics, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, India.
The Journal of Hand Surgery
|July 31, 2003
Summary
This study details a rare mirror hand variant in a young boy, characterized by fused hypoplastic radii and multiple fingers. Unique radial notching suggests a failed duplication, distinct from finger duplication causes.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Orthopedic surgery
- Clinical genetics
Background:
- Mirror hand is a rare congenital upper limb malformation characterized by the ulnar and radial bones being mirror images of each other.
- This condition often involves anomalies in the carpal and metacarpal bones, as well as the digits.
Observation:
- A 3.5-year-old boy presented with mirror hand, exhibiting multiple fingers and radiographic evidence of fused hypoplastic radii and an ulna.
- A distinctive feature was a broad radius with proximal notching, indicative of a failed incomplete duplication event.
Findings:
- The patient displayed a variant of mirror hand with polysyndactyly (multiple fused fingers).
- Radiographs confirmed fusion of two hypoplastic radii and one ulna.
- The proximal notching on the broad radius suggests an unusual developmental pathway for radial duplication.
Implications:
- This case highlights the diverse spectrum of upper limb malformations and the complex etiology of congenital anomalies.
- Understanding the specific mechanisms of radial and digital duplication is crucial for accurate diagnosis and potential future interventions.
- Further research into the genetic and environmental factors influencing limb development may elucidate the distinct origins of radial and finger duplication in such cases.