[Bone lengthening by distraction of the metacarpal or phalanx in children]

We report the results of bone lengthening using progressive distraction performed for congenital hand deformities in 12 children between 1998 and 2004. The series is retrospective. Patients were aged between 2 and 11 years. The distraction site was metacarpal in 9 cases and phalangeal in 3 cases. The Mondéal micro distraction device was used. The lengthening procedure was a callotasis with a 0.25 to 0.5 mm/day distraction pace in all cases. The final mean lengthening was 16 mm, and the mean treatment duration was 107 days. The complication rate was 33%. The distraction procedure is described in detail. It is feasible in very young patients as a micro distraction device is used. Family education may prevent complications. This therapeutic procedure gave functional improvement without impairment of distal sensitivity.