Severity of ulnar deficiency and its relationship with lower extremity deficiencies

J Pediatr Orthop B. 2019 Jan;28(1):62-66. doi: 10.1097/BPB.0000000000000547.

Abstract

To assess the characteristics of ulnar deficiency (UD) and their relationship to lower extremity deficiencies, we retrospectively classified 82 limbs with UD in 62 patients, 55% of whom had femoral, fibular, or combined deficiencies. In general, UD severity classification at one level (elbow, ulna, fingers, thumb/first web space) statistically correlated with similar severity at another. Ours is the first study to show that presence of a lower limb deficiency is associated with less severe UD on the basis of elbow, ulnar, and thumb/first web parameters. This is consistent with the embryological timing of proximal upper extremities developing before the lower extremities.

MeSH terms

  • Congenital Abnormalities / classification
  • Elbow / abnormalities
  • Female
  • Femur / abnormalities*
  • Fibula / abnormalities*
  • Fingers / abnormalities
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Synostosis / etiology
  • Ulna / abnormalities*