Isolated Madelung's deformity: long-term follow-up study of five patients treated surgically

Five patients with isolated Madelung's deformity were reviewed with an average follow-up of 34 years after surgery. All the patients were female and their average age at surgery was 12.7 years, whereas the average age at follow-up was 53 years. The deformity was bilateral in four patients and unilateral in one, for a total of nine deformities. At diagnosis, in all the patients the typical radial deviation of the hand was observed, with dorsal prominence of the distal end of the ulna. Pain and limitation of the range of motion were present in all the wrists except two, which were painless but presented marked functional impairment. In no patient did we observe growth disorders of the other bones or deformities typical of osteochondrodysplasias. Surgical correction was sought by both the families and the patients mainly for functional reasons, although cosmetic improvement was also expected. The operation consisted of closing-wedge osteotomy of the distal radial metaphysis and either shortening osteotomy or resection of the distal ulna. At follow-up, the range of motion of the wrists was improved, and all the patients were pain-free and satisfied with the final results. No significant radiographic osteoarthritis was present in any of the operated wrists, although four of the five patients were above 50 years of age.