Radial cortex transverse distraction help to treat the Raynaud's phenomenon

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Vascular Surgery
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) involves digital extremity vasospasm, significantly impacting patient quality of life.
• Distraction osteogenesis promotes vascularization and soft tissue regeneration.
• No prior studies have investigated radial cortex transverse distraction for RP treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of radial cortex transverse distraction in treating Raynaud's phenomenon.
• To assess the impact of this novel procedure on patient symptoms and tissue healing.

Main Methods:

• Six patients with refractory RP underwent radial cortex transverse distraction between January 2019 and January 2023.
• Patients had failed conventional treatments for at least six months prior to surgery.
• Follow-up exceeded one year, monitoring bone healing, ulcer resolution, pain, and oxygen saturation.

Main Results:

• Bone cortex healed successfully without complications like osteomyelitis or fractures.
• Finger ulcers healed within one month post-surgery.
• Significant improvements observed: reduced pain (VAS score from 6 to 2), decreased skin pallor, and improved finger oxygen saturation (SpO2).

Conclusions:

• Radial cortex transverse distraction demonstrated effectiveness in healing finger ulcers and alleviating Raynaud's symptoms.
• The procedure appears to salvage affected hands and improve overall patient outcomes.
• These findings suggest radial cortex transverse distraction is a promising therapeutic option for Raynaud's phenomenon.