The word "camptodactyly" is derived from the Greek and means "bent finger". It describe a nontraumatic flexion deformity of the little finger. There is no single, standard, successful treatment because there is no single cause for the condition.
We analyzed the 17 fingers out of 12 patients, who were treated surgically from Jan. 1982 to Aug. 1991, and tried to identify the etiologic factors of camptodactyly and the effect of our new surgical two maneuvers.
As a first procedure, volar ski on PIP joint was incised using a Brunner's zig-zag incision the make a z-plasty for the correction of skin contracture, Then volar plate and capsule were incised transversely and shortened FDS was lengthened by
cross-suture of both slips of FDS which was lengthened by cross-suture of both slips of FDS which was resected at proximal and of one slip but at distal end of another slip. We thought this technique was effective to elongate the FDS as well as
to
maintain the flexion power of PIP joint. Then we checked the post-operative finger motion by the wrist motion. If it is fine, the remained both slips of FDS was resected. We have used this technique in 6 patients and have got the good clinical
results
after minimal 6 months of operation.
As a second alternative procedure, if there are still extension lag for more than 40° after the above first maneuver, then we have transfered one remained proximal slip to slacken extensor apparatus or lateral band partly to reinforce the finger
extension. We did this operation in 2 patients and also got the good end results
In this study we can throw the following conclusions that even it was an isolated camptodactyly, it may be a syndrome associated with multitiude of complicated factors and their treatment was not so simple, but the anatomic pathologies are mainly
located at the PIP joint of fingers. Finally our new surgical method was effective to correct the camptodactyly.
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