management
Last reviewed 01/2018
The surgical treatment of brachydactyly is rarely indicated. Usually, the patient presents late with good function and little in the way of functional impairment. Surgery addresses specific issues:
- angulated digits:
- often due to longitudinally bracketed epiphyses; epiphysiolysis may permit adequate subsequent growth in the child
- mature defects may require opening wedge osteotomies with or without bone grafts
- cosmetically short digit:
- rarely is surgery indicated
- can be addressed with techniques such as:
- distraction osteogenesis; substantial lengths can be obtained
- single-stage lengthening with bone grafts
- nonvascularised toe phalangeal transfers