Surgical correction of thumb with ulnar or ulnar median paralysis

The commonest deformities and disabilities of the thumb seen in this country are secondary to ulnar and median nerve paralysis because of leprosy. The small muscles of the thumb supplied by these nerves are paralysed causing instability, imbalance of muscular forces, deformities and disabilities. The clinical features of these together with principles of the various methods of surgical correction and their evaluation are presented and discussed in this paper.