PREOPERATIVE DISTRACTION LENGTHENING FOR RADIAL LONGITUDINAL DEFICIENCY

Patients treated for total radial aplasia have been reviewed. It was p ossible to re-align the carpus by radialization in five out of six lim bs treated with pre-operative distraction, but in only one out of six treated without distraction. The average improvement in radial angulat ion in the non-distraction group was 19 degrees and in the distraction group 38 degrees. The average improvement in radial translation was 1 6 mm and 17 mm in the two groups respectively. Pre-operative distracti on with the Kessler device permits re-alignment of the hand without sk eletal resection or excessive tension on the radial neurovascular stru ctures.