Angulation occurring during the distraction lengthening of digits

Distraction lengthening of congenitally short digits is an accepted reconstructive procedure in hand surgery. A previously unreported complication of angulation occurring during distraction was treated by open reduction and insertion of a longitudinally placed, smooth Kirschner wire. The wire functioned as a spindle along which the distraction of the osteotomized bone fragments was continued. A satisfactory result was achieved.