Long-term outcomes following radial polydactyly reconstruction

Area of Science:

• Hand surgery
• Pediatric orthopedics
• Congenital hand differences

Background:

• Radial polydactyly is a congenital condition affecting thumb development.
• Surgical reconstruction aims to improve thumb function and aesthetics.
• Understanding long-term outcomes is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the long-term outcomes (>10 years) of surgical reconstruction for radial polydactyly.
• To assess objective functional measures and patient-reported outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 43 surgically reconstructed thumbs in 41 patients with radial polydactyly was evaluated.
• Follow-up exceeded 10 years, with a mean of 17 years.
• Objective outcome values and validated patient-oriented outcome evaluations were obtained.

Main Results:

• No early complications were noted. Eight patients (18.6%) required revision procedures, averaging 8 years post-initial surgery.
• Functional strength (lateral, tripod, tip pinch) was comparable to the unaffected side, though tip and tripod pinch were weaker as a group.
• Patient-reported outcomes (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand, Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory) were favorable.

Conclusions:

• Surgical reconstruction of radial polydactyly yields excellent long-term results.
• A trend towards increased revision procedures over time was observed.
• Favorable objective and patient-reported outcomes were maintained despite the need for revisions.