[Treatment of macrodactyly with epiphyseal plate excision in growth retardation]

Macrodactyly, the overgrowth of one or more fingers or toes, is a comparatively rare congenital deformity. The enlargement includes skin, subcutaneous tissue, nerve, joint and bone. The bony involvement is usually limited to phalanges and the metacarpus is rarely involved. Since 1979, 10 cases have been seen in our hospital. Among them, there were 6 cases whose giant fingers or toes were treated with epiphyseal plates removing. The postoperative results (the longest follow-up period was 9 years) were satisfying. The growth of fingers or toes was completely stopped but in one case whose toes became longer because his epiphyseal plates were not removed thoroughly. According to the experiences of two cases, when the gigantism occurred in the thumb, the first metacarpus was also involved. The excision of epiphyseal plates was an effective method to halt further growth of macrodactyly for children and teenagers. And this method is simply and easily to be performed.