[Morphology and systematic aspects of the longitudinal radial defect]

The present study includes a total of 117 observations in 74 patients with longitudinal distal and combined radial defects. This is the largest patient population with radial deficiencies not due to thalidomide reported in the literature. The objective of the present paper is to appraise the principles and typical patterns in reduction as well as characteristic radiological morphology. A seasonally higher incidence of longitudinal radial deficiency can be observed. Overall, there is only a slight preponderance of female patients. The bilateral occurrence of the malformation is more frequent than its unilateral presentation. Complete radius aplasia is most frequent, followed by radius hypoplasia and partial radius aplasia. The malformation of the humerus parallels the radius defect severity. An isolated humerus malformation was not observed. In the hand, malformation of the radial carpal bones and first metacarpal is the most common, with malformations tending to decrease ulnarly. A teratological series of the longitudinal radial defect with typical reduction patterns is described. The regression advances from proximal to distal in the radial carpal column and ray, from distal to proximal in the radius and from proximal to distal in the humerus. The malformation progresses from distal to proximal in the upper limb as a whole.