Restoration of apposition function in residual hand by the Ilizarov method: a case report

A five-year-old boy is presented with multiple finger and toe amputations, secondary to meningococcemia. The child developed a bimanual use pattern of the upper extremities with a significant amount of soft tissue scarring. The left hand was reconstructed according to Ilizarov's method by a combination of distraction lengthening of the metacarpals with two mini-Hoffman distractors and gradual interdigital space widening with web deepening accompanied by a modified Ilizarov apparatus. One year after removal of the external fixation frame, the web space is preserved and the child is adapting to the pincer-like function of his hands.