Growth chart patterns and clinical implications in thumb hypoplasia

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Orthopedics
• Developmental Biology
• Congenital Anomalies

Background:

• Thumb hypoplasia is a rare congenital condition with limited data on long-term growth.
• While surgical management is understood, postnatal growth patterns require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze long-term postnatal growth patterns in children with thumb hypoplasia.
• To identify factors influencing growth, including syndromic status, anomaly severity, and surgical intervention.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 291 children diagnosed with thumb hypoplasia (2003-2025).
• Collected data included demographics, Manske classification, syndromic status, and surgical management.
• Analyzed growth using WHO and INTERGROWTH-21st standards, comparing outcomes across different patient subgroups.

Main Results:

• 47% of patients showed impaired growth in at least one anthropometric index.
• Syndromic patients and those with higher Manske severity exhibited significantly poorer growth.
• Surgical status and type did not significantly impact longitudinal growth changes.

Conclusions:

• Children with thumb hypoplasia, particularly those with syndromes or severe anomalies, experience impaired growth.
• Growth is primarily influenced by systemic and biological factors, not surgical interventions.
• Findings emphasize the need for multidisciplinary assessment and long-term growth monitoring for early detection of broader pathologies.