It has been 51 years since Dieter Buck-Gramcko published his landmark paper in JBJS describing his technique of index pollicization for treatment of thumb hypoplasia and aplasia. Since that time, experienced surgeons have reconsidered his original indications, developed alternative procedures, and refined technical aspects of the procedure.
Objectives
After this activity, participants will be able to:
- Review classification of thumb hypoplasia, surgical treatment of Types I, II and IIIA and alternatives to pollicization in Type IIIB thumbs
- Define evolving indications for hypoplastic thumb reconstruction and for pollicization
- Understand rationale for alternative skin incision strategies
- Review technical aspects of skeletal shortening and anchorage
- Review rationale of shortening and repositioning extrinsic and intrinsic
