The Retroflexible Thumb -case report-

Journal of the Korean Society for Surgery of the Hand 1999;4(1):89-93.
Published online January 1, 1999.

Duke Whan Chung,Chang Hyun Cho

후방 유연성 무지 -증례 보고-

정덕환,조창현

Abstract

The retroflexible thumb is a rare congenital anomaly. The term retroflexible thumb was first coined by pediatrians in 1963. It is a typical appearance that the metacarpophalangeal joint is hyperextened and the interphalangeal joint is hyperflexed. The pathology involves an excessively strong extensor pollicis brevis. Most cases are unilateral. This deformity occurs sporadically and associates with a certain diseases: especifically trisomy D-1, partial trisomy D-1, trisomy 13-15, Rothmund-Thompson syndrome, and diastrophic dwarfism. This retroflexible thumb is a first report in Korea. We treated surgically the retroflexible thumb using the lengthening of the extensor pollicis brevis and volar capsulodesis of the meracarpophalangeal joint described by Filler. As a result, we achieved much improved hand function.