Volume 2 | Issue 2 | May-Aug 2016 | Page 2-7| Ashok N. Johari

Authors :Ashok N. Johari [1]

[1] Director of The Enable International Center for Paediatric Musculoskeletal Care, India.

Address of Correspondence
Dr Ashok N Johari
Email ID: drashokjohari@hotmail.com

The Price of Greatness is Responsibility
– Winston Churchill –

This interview with Dr Ashok Johari (ANJ) was conducted in Hotel Le Meredian. The interview was conducted by Dr Sandeep Patwardhan (SP) and Dr Ashok Shyam (AKS) on the second day of Pune Orthopaedic Society Annual Meeting in Pune, India.
The purpose of this interview is to know more about the journey of Dr Ashok Johari who is a pioneer in paediatric orthopaedics in India and in the world. This interview aims to catch a glimpse of his life and times and also showcase the rise of paediatric orthopaedic as an independent faculty in India. A broader objective is to attract people to paediatric orthopaedics and to have pride in our own people who have done exceptionally well in reaching international acclaim in respective fields.

AKS: Let me begin by asking you about your family background. Tell us something about your family and where you grew up?
ANJ: My father, Dr. N.K. Johari was an anaesthetist and my mother was a house wife. I was the only son among four daughters. One of the big aims of my father’s life was that we should be very well educated. He was a disciplined person himself and was particular about our studies and felt that we should do well in our exams. Not necessarily get first rank, but should get good education. He also focussed a lot on our extracurricular activities. One routine which is very interesting, which I would like to share. I had school weekly off on Thursday and my father insisted that I be with him on that day. He would go to different hospitals and take me with him to operation theatres (OT). He would want me to simply watch what is happening. I have these memories right from my age of five when I would stand on stools and watch surgeries in operation theatres from morning to evening. If on Thursday he didn’t have OT, he made sure that I was involved in some or the other work like washing the car, servicing the scooter etc. Everything had to be cleaned in the cars, carburettors had to be removed and cleaned. This helped me learn discipline from an early age.

My family was of medium means, though two generation ago we were quite rich. Our family were Jagirdars from Bikaner in Rajasthan. Once the Jagirdari went away, we were jewellers to all the princes of Rajasthan and South India. However somewhere things went wrong and by the time my father was young, most of the wealth had disappeared and my father had to work very hard. So I always had great respect and appreciation for him. He came to Mumbai for medical education and then stayed back here.
I was a sickly child specially bronchitis. Sometimes I used to get status asthamaticus and my father used to give me deriphylline drips, oxygen, everything at home. This also brought me in contact with doctors other than my father and that is the time I decided to become a doctor.

AKS: In fact our next question is on the topic of how did you decide to become a doctor, how did you get the inspiration?
ANJ: My father was my first inspiration. Vising OT’s and watching surgeries over the years developed interest and then being a ‘sick’ child I came into contact with many other doctors. These are the factors that influenced my decision to become a doctor. My father was not very keen on me becoming a doctor. Although he would take me around for cases, but he realised that the profession was degrading in someways and he did not want me to join medicine. I had to literally fight with him to enter medical college. In fact I said that if he did not want to pay the fees, I would raise money but I would definitely go to medical college.
I was in a technical school and from very early in life I had resolved to become a doctor specially influenced by watching surgeons in OT. These surgeons were associated with a lot of ‘Drama’ and glamour which really attracted me. After my 7th standard I had to opt out from normal school to go to a technical school. In our school we had this system of cumulative record. Our whole academic records were entered and we were asked our ambitions in life. Everywhere in my cumulative record my ambition is written as ‘I want to become a doctor and specifically orthopaedic surgeon’, right from my 8th standard. I topped the school and went to Jai Hind College and then entered medical college.

SP: Which medical school did you go for your MBBS.
ANJ: I went to Grant Medical College (GMC), JJ Hospital, Mumbai. I had a sort of connection with GMC from childhood. My father was a honorary professor at GMC and I had frequented the college since a very young age. I liked the campus very much specially the old building. My father was a medical student at GMC in 1940’s. He had clicked tons of photographs of the GMC campus, college buildings and old buildings from that era. We displayed these in an exhibition in 1976 organised by me in GMC called EXPO -76. I used to be the Magazine Editor then. I used to see these pictures in my younger days and had decided that I would go to GMC. So I did my medical school at GMC.

At a paediatric orthopaedic course in England in April 1988. Some who can be identified are Dr. Gopalakrishnan of Chennai, Dr. Pachore now at Ahmedabad and at the extreme end is Dr.Rajveer Chinoy of Mumbai. Dr. Johari is to his right. Mr. Thomas and Mr. Baker are to Dr. Johari’s right

AKS: During medical school were there any influences that helped or formed your career? Why did you choose orthopaedic surgery?
ANJ: As you know I had already decided on orthopaedics long back, especially the drama and the glamour of orthopaedic surgeons attracted me strongly. While in third year of my medical school, when I was scheduled for the orthopaedic posting, Dr Joshipura was our head of department (HOD). On the first day he asked, ‘Who wants to become an orthopaedic surgeon’, and rather naively I raised my hand (laughs). From that day, I had a bullseye marked on my back and was targeted for everything. Dr Joshipura would ask me questions on anatomy, pathology and orthopaedics all the time and would comment ‘You want to be an orthopaedic surgeon and you don’t even know this!’ I realised that it was with a good intention but I really felt pressurised to the extent of mental agony (laughs again). Suddenly something happened and in the middle of my orthopaedic term, Dr Joshipura disappeared. Later we came to know that he had a tussle with the dean. The dean wanted him to come to his office to see a patient and he said that he was on rounds and insisted that the patient be sent to him to be seen after the rounds. On this point there was some argument and he resigned from the college.

1989, Orthopaedic Unit at JJ Hospital. Dr. Johari is sitting on the left with his teachers, Dr. J.C. Taraporvala (centre) and Dr. P.D. Hakim (right). Behind them are the 3 registrars – on the right Randip Bindra, centre Dr. Gautam Chakraborty and on his right Dr. Sanjay Mehta. All 3 registrars settled outside India

JJ Orthopaedics in the mid 1990’s- sitting on the left, Dr. Shakir Kapadia, Late Dr. D.G. Dongaonkar, Dr. Johari and Dr. Sudhir Joshi. Standing extreme right is Dr. Sangeet Gawhale and standing second from left is the late Dr. Sanjay Jagtap. Dr. Dongaonkar was subsequently also the Dean and then Vice Chancellor of the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences.

AKS: So who would you say, once you started orthopaedics as a registrar, were your early influences?
ANJ: By the time I came back for my residency Dr Taraporewala was the chief of orthopaedic surgery at GMC. But we got a chance to see all the great surgeons including Dr Masalawala. Especially on Saturdays when we had these Saturday departmental conferences at GMC where all people connected to the institution would come. Dr Ugrankar, Dr Kawarana etc and all the unit chiefs along with HOD. This gave us lot of opportunity to interact with these people. Dr Masalawala was at that time very well recognised, he had been the past president of Indian Orthopaedic Association. He was pioneer in tuberculosis of spine and had the largest series of around 400 cases (this was in late 70’s). He published that in Indian Journal of Surgery. These Saturday interactions allowed us to connect with these giants of Orthopaedics in India and learn first-hand from them. I did two terms one in orthopaedic surgery and one in general surgery. For general surgery we always preferred to go to St. George’s Hospital to work under Dr Kumbhani. He was a general surgeon turned orthopaedic surgeon. He was appointed as a general surgeon but did only orthopaedic work. There we would learn general surgery from other surgeons in the unit and do orthopaedic work with Dr Kumbani. In general surgery we got training in abdominal surgeries, appendectomy, hernia repairs and other common procedures which was quite helpful in life even later. Along with that we had advantage to continue doing and learning orthopaedics with Dr Kumbhani.

AKS: You were pioneer in Paediatric Orthopaedics in India? Tell us something about the Story? – Why did you choose it?
ANJ: This is an interesting story and many incidents happened serendipitously for me to land up as a paediatric orthopaedic surgeon. After my two house posts, there was a six month wait for the registrar post and instead of waiting and going back to JJ Hospital, I decided to join the Children’s Orthopaedic Hospital (COH) at Haji Ali, Mumbai. At that time there was this unique personality there, ‘Dr.Perin K Mullaferoze’ who was the HOD at COH. She was an intimidating lady orthopaedic surgeon and was a battle scarred war veteran. She was a Lt. Colonel in the British army and had fought in World War II. She had seen action in Middle East and Unified India which extended till what are now Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh. She was an authoritarian lady and she was also the HOD of orthopaedics at JJ Hospital prior to Dr Masalawala. She was the second HOD of Orthopaedics in JJ, but she left JJ and concentrated completely on children’s Orthopaedics, specifically cerebral palsy. So in effect she was the first paediatric orthopaedic surgeon in the country but focussed on very limited diseases. She was around 70 years of age when I joined.

AKS: This was in which year Sir?
ANJ: This was in 1980 and I instantly liked working in paediatric orthopaedics. I was very fond of children and used to play with kids. At that time there were lot of polio cases who visited us at COH. Treating polio had a very rational approach – like if we did a particular intervention the outcomes would be as expected. The disease as well as the management could be all very well explained by biomechanics and anatomy. I very much liked this rational – logical approach. I worked there for 6 months as a registrar before I returned back to JJ. I had a very good learning experience with Dr Mullaferoze. She was very particular about certain things like applying plaster. For her, the plasters should be very comfortable to the patient and well padded. She was very good surgically, especially older surgeries of poliomyelitis, arthrodesis etc. By the time I went to COH, she was already in her 70’s and had stopped operating, but we requested her to come to OT and she demonstrated surgeries to us. So my time at COH actually build the resolve in me to pursue paediatric orthopaedics. Although it might be surprising that I had a bioengineering background and was very interested in biomechanics and joint mechanics. I had already done advanced work in tribology and joint replacement. I did summer workshop on tribology at the Harcourt Butler Technological Institute, Kanpur. UGC used to hold this workshop which I attended during 1979. Joint replacement was a good upcoming field but I felt it won’t give me the challenges and the variety which paediatric orthopaedic would give me. Also my aptitude was for paediatric orthopaedics. For example if you see even now, paediatric orthopaedicians are more academically oriented, more studious, and soft spoken. They take their own time to do things, they mix with people, and they mix with children. Ego problems are also not many among paediatric orthopaedic surgeons. To be with children you have to be like children and let go of your ego. So I believe I was much more inclined to be a paediatric orthopaedic surgeon than anything else.

AKS: Did the specialty of paediatric orthopaedics exist in those days in India?
ANJ: No the speciality did not exist in those days, it was all general orthopaedic surgeons who did the paediatric work. COH was specialised in paediatric orthopaedics, started basically to deal with polio. So with polio it started dealing with other children orthopaedic problems. With decline of polio, it started dealing with cerebral plasy (CP) too. It became the first centre in India to deal with CP and one of the foremost in the world. In 1961, Dr Mullaferoze went to USA to study cerebral palsy. There was this PL-480 scheme that funded her. It also funded the setting up of the cerebral palsy centre at COH in1963 by the Americans. So the speciality of paediatric orthopaedics did not really exists in those days, but there were people who did major work in paediatric orthopaedics. But this was not exclusive work and they continued to do adult orthopaedic work too. For example Dr MG Kini, was one of the senior most orthopaedic surgeon who did lot of paediatric work and had published papers on the same. Dr Mullaferoze and Dr Dholakia worked as assistants to Dr Kini at COH. Dr Kini was HOD at Chennai and after his retirement he was invited to be director at COH. He was one of the first qualified orthopaedic surgeons, first to have an orthopaedic degree in India. He went to Liverpool and did his MCH and came back to start practising orthopaedic surgery exclusively. In later years he did a lot of paediatric work but not exclusively.

SP: The Kini Memorial oration at WIROC is dedicated to him
ANJ: Yes correct. He worked in Bombay at COH and when he retired Dr Mullaferoze took over from him as the director. Dr Dholakia was visiting consultant at COH, until he became full time consultant at Bombay Hospital. So the speciality definitely did not exists in those days as we see it today, but I was determined to pursue it. I continued to look for opportunities in paediatric orthopaedics and luckily in 1984, I came across an advertisement in Indian Journal of Orthopaedics (IJO). The advertisement was about a fellowship in paediatric orthopaedics in Japan. Fellowships were unheard of in those days and it was very difficult to get one. I only knew a fellowship in hand surgery in Singapore and a spine fellowships in Hong Kong. Prof. Marwah was HOD of Orthopaedics and Dean at Nagpur GMC and had connections with surgeons in Japan. He was also the President of Indian Orthopaedic Association at that time. A famous Japanese children’s hospital offered a fellowship to Dr Marwah, to send a young person for training to Japan and Dr Marwah placed an advertisement in IJO, which I came across, fortunately! I responded to the fellowship and sent him my CV and by good luck I was selected from a number of applicants. I got a call from Dr Marwah to be ready to go to Japan. Going to Japan was not going to be easy, as I understood that Japanese do not speak English and it was clear to me that I had to learn Japanese. I came to know about the confirmation for fellowship around 9 months before I had to actually leave. I utilised this time to learn Japanese and when I reached Japan, I did an intensive course in Japanese language. This enabled me to converse in Japanese. Writing Japanese was very difficult and takes years to learn but I learnt enough to at least converse with surgeons and patients. I was a lecturer at Sion hospital at that time. I finished my MS in 1981 from JJ and in 1982 I finished my registrarship. In 1982 I got the opportunity to be a tutor at Sion hospital. I was then lecturer at Sion where I would do trauma, spine, paediatric and also arthroscopy. Surprisingly I did lot of arthroscopy at that time. It was I, who actually discovered that Sion hospital has an arthroscope which no public hospital had! I was fooling with our OT sister and rummaging through her cupboard when I found a Karl Storz box and I was told that this was an arthroscopy set ordered by Dr. Pandit. Dr Pandit was the HOD and had retired, so probably the arthroscopy set came after his retirement and nobody knew about it. So I started using the arthroscope and did lot of arthroscopies.
Once I got opportunity to do paediatric orthopaedics in Japan, things started to turn positively toward paediatric orthopaedics. The spectrum of disease in Japan was quite different from that in India. There the focus was on early detection, braces etc. Surgeries were performed but only for different diseases like osteogenesis imperfecta etc unlike the neglected and complex cases that we had in India. But my time in Japan gave me an introduction to paediatric orthopaedic world.

1985, Yokohama, Japan, with friends for life!

When I came back to Sion Hospital in 1986. my boss, Dr. S.S. Vengsarkar had resigned as HOD and Dr. N.S. Laud had taken over. Both encouraged me a lot. Dr Laud allotted me a side room with six paediatric orthopaedic beds. I told him that I wanted a separate paediatric orthopaedic OPD and he graciously agreed. We started this paediatric orthopaedic OPD in early 1986 and it was the first paediatric orthopaedic unit in any teaching hospital. We interacted with other paediatric faculties also. It was a flourishing OPD and was held every week. Apparently this OPD was later taken over by Joy Patankar later on. During this time in 1986 there was an advertisement for a post in Wadia Children’s Hospital for which I was selected. I had already completed 4 years in Sion by that time and so I decided to leave in 1987. I gave my resignation in February 1987. Dr Dalal who was the dean at Wadia hospital requested me to take up Dr Kumbhani’s OPD. I was not yet relieved from Sion, but I accepted the offer and started attending OPD from October of 1986 till February of 1987. In February I was relieved from Sion and started working at Wadia full time.
Another peculiar thing happened in February of 1987. There was a conference in Mumbai arranged by Dr Dholakia, named ‘Surgery in the Tropics’. Prof. Robert Owen from Liverpool University came for this conference and we were scheduled together for a symposium on Perthes disease on which Dr. Dholakia was also speaking. I was to speak on etiopathogenesis and Prof. Owen was to speak on the surgical aspect. Since I was very interested in paediatric orthopaedic I was continuously reading and before the conference Liverpool group had recently published their work on etiopathogenesis. I went through the paper and prepared my presentation. Prof. Owen thought that no one from India would be knowing about the study and so included some 20 slides of the etiopathogenesis in his surgery lecture, but then he had to rush through them as I had already covered them in my lecture. After the symposium was over, he asked me if I was interested in doing M.Ch at Liverpool. I did want to go to Liverpool but I said I would come only if I got a registrar job which could sustain me. I told him that I can’t come only as a student, pay fees and attend the course. He promised that he will do something and true to his promise he wrote back in 10 days offering me a student position for M.Ch. I again wrote back requesting for a job with the M.Ch. I got a reply from him inviting me for an interview for a job. He said if the interview board decides to give you a job, you can do both M.Ch and the job. In the interview they already had my CV, I had Japan experience and 5 years’ experience at Sion and Wadia hopital. Prof. Owen had retired but attended the interview board. I had opted to stay in YMCA dorm which was near the bus station of Liverpool. After the interview I was returning back to YMCA when somebody followed me and asked me to call on a number. He said Mr John Taylor wanted me to speak to him. Mr John Talylor was senior consultant and was chief of orthopaedic surgery at Alder Hey hospital. When I called him, he invited me for dinner, to which I gladly agreed. He took me to his house and he congratulated me on getting the job. He said this is the first time we are appointing anyone directly from India. We have given you the most prestigious job in Liverpool. I returned back to England in December 1987 to get used to the system. I had very good time at Liverpool. I had alternate day emergency on call and everyday 2 hours classes. This was quite a hectic schedule with almost every other night going on till late with surgeries the next morning and then followed up with OPD. There were classes every day and class assignments too. Fridays’ were totally off to attend M.Ch schedule where we had classes, visits to other hospitals, case presentations, workshops etc. I was seven years post MS and had maturity to grasp most of the things. So these two experiences, in Japan and England added a lot to my understanding. Some things are very different at these places specially their approach to education. For example if I had to use the library at Japan at the Yokohama Children’s Medical Centre(where I did my fellowship), I had to simply ask the keys from the security. I could go to the library anytime and read. If I had to borrow a book, I simply had to write my name in the card and drop in the box and take the book. In UK, if I needed any literature, I would simply ask the librarian and they would provide me with everything. This was unheard of in India at that time and it was extremely difficult to get literature. We had to visit many libraries and beg for articles and many a times they won’t have the article. When in UK, I continued my thesis on septic hip which I had started in India and wanted to make my M.Ch thesis. In India I did not find much literature and so I prepared my classification etc for the same. But in England while referencing and cross referencing I came across an article by Hunka on the topic. It wasn’t very popular article by somewhere in cross-referencing it was mentioned as Hunka’s criteria for septic hip. Then I knew that he had already published a classification in 1982.
The experience at Liverpool was very helpful and I believe a good impression was made of Indian students. I had a good experience already specifically in polio, so if anyone was stuck on some of these rare cases they would call me. Prof Klenerman was a great foot surgeon who worked at our hospital and whenever patients of polio would come to him, he would call me for opinion always. This created a good impression and probably made easy for future guys to join MCh. These experiences helped me a lot in grooming myself into paediatric orthopaedics.

End of 1988, Dr. Johari receiving the prestigious Norman Roberts Medal of the University of Liverpool

1988, England, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital with OPD staff

SP: How was the journey when you came back?
ANJ: So I came back to Wadia and also joined COH, JJ Hospital and Asha Parekh hospital as honorary. I juggled all of them for some time but found it quite taxing. I really wanted to be a full timer as I was of academic mind-set, so wanted to remain at an institute. But I found the environment at the Sion and other hospitals not very appealing. For everything we had to literally beg. What should logically follow in terms of education, academics and infrastructure had to go through lot of red tape, through HOD, Dean, AMC etc. This environment I found very frustrating and didn’t think I could spend my whole life in such environment. Meanwhile I had a conversation with Dr Dhir who was HOD at KEM Hospital. I asked him if he will be attending a forthcoming conference to which he replied that he was allowed to attend only two conferences from the corporation. They also were not allowed to buy books directly and had to go through library to buy anything. This strengthened my resolve to come out of the full time mode to join private practice rather reluctantly. I was very fond of reading, learning new things etc but had to give up full time

AKS: Did you ever think of staying back in UK.
ANJ: Somehow I never wanted to stay back in UK. They had good impression of me and would have created an opportunity for me, but I felt a bit misplaced there. Misfit in the sense you have to be always in your best behaviour and use fork and knife etc [laughs]. I always thought I belonged here and I didn’t want to stay there.

Dr. Johari with a patient in his clinic – where children are his love and excellence his passion…

When I came back I was just doing honorary job at various places. My wife questioned me on my intentions to continue as honorary at various places and earn paltry honorarium. I used to get around 125 rupees from JJ Hospital, 50 from Wadia, 200 rupees from COH with total of 500 rupees a month. With these pressures I decided to enter private practice and the next part of my journey is about being full-fledged private paediatric orthopaedic surgeon and being involved in promoting the speciality of Paediatric Orthopaedics in India. Its again a very interesting story that involves birth of Paediatric Orthopaedic Society of India (POSI)
We will continue the story further in the part two of the interview, to be published in the forthcoming issue of IJPO

Dr. Johari with his wife Dr. Usha, an ophthalmologist …Through thick and thin, together!

Dr Ashok N Johari

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Volume 2 | Issue 2 | May-Aug 2016 | Page 34-37|Dhurvas Ramlal Ramprasath, Vasudevan Thirunarayanan, Murugan Shanmuga Sundaram

Authors :Dhurvas Ramlal Ramprasath [1], Vasudevan Thirunarayanan [1], Murugan Shanmuga Sundaram [2]

[1] Senior Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Government Royapettah Hospital,Westcott road,Royapettah,Chennai,India-600014.
[2] Junior Resident, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Government Royapettah Hospital, Chennai, India- 600014.

Address of Correspondence
Dr Ramprasath D.R.,
12/23, Murugappa street, Purasawakkam, Chennai, India. PIN- 600007.
Email ID: dhurvasramprasath@gmail.com

Abstract

Several osteotomies are available to correct cubitus varus and valgus deformities in children. The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical and radiological outcome following Kim’s step cut translation osteotomy for such deformities.
Materials and Methods: We have instituted Kim’s step cut translational osteotomy in seven children having deformities of elbow (cubitus varus – 4 and cubitus valgus – 3). Patients were followed up for a period of 8 to 14 months during the period of August 2014 to October 2015. Clinically and radiologically, preoperative and postoperative Humerus-Elbow-Wrist angle, Range of motion of elbow, Lateral/Medial Prominence Index and neurological examination for ulnar nerve were determined. Results were evaluated according to modified Oppenheim et al criteria.
Results: The mean postoperative Humerus-Elbow-Wrist angle in patients with cubitus varus was 8.5±2.06 0 (range, 50 to 100). The mean improvement in Lateral Prominence Index was 7.4 ±1.28% (from –13.15% to -5.75% ). In cubitus valgus patients, mean
postoperative Humerus-Elbow-Wrist angle was 12.33±3.510(range, 80 to 150) . The mean improvement in MPI was 8.7±0.83% (from -15.5% to -6.8% ) . In all patients range of motion was comparable with normal side elbow. Bone union was achieved in all patients. According to Oppenheim’s criteria, six patients had excellent results and one patient had good result. .None of them had any complications.
Conclusion: Even though multiple procedures are available for correcting deformities of elbow, Kim’s step cut translational osteotomy provides good correction angle, lesser prominence of the condyle, better stability and three dimensional correction.
Key Words: Cubitus varus, Cubitus valgus, Kim’s osteotomy, Lateral/ Medial prominence Index.

Introduction
Cubitus varus and valgus deformities are complications of elbow fractures in children[1]. Cubitus varus has multiple components that include varus malalignment, hyperextension and internal malrotation[2,3]. The most important indication for osteotomy is to achieve a good cosmesis[2,4]. Many surgical techniques have been described to correct these deformities including closing wedge, opening wedge, dome and step cut osteotomies[5-12]. The closing wedge osteotomy has a tendency to produce prominent condyles after correction,often compromising the cosmetic outcome[2,13-16]. The inclusion of translation in the osteotomy improves cosmetic appearance by minimizing the persistent prominence of the medial or lateral condyle. This can be achieved by Kim’s osteotomy. The aim of our study was to evaluate clinically and radiologically, the preoperative and postoperative Humerus-Elbow-Wrist(HEW) angle, Lateral/Medial Prominence Index(LPI/MPI), Range of Motion(ROM), in children undergoing Kim’s step cut translation osteotomy for cubitus varus and valgus.

Materials and Methods
This is a retrospective study, from August 2014 to October 2015, involving seven paediatric patients in the age group 8 – 14 years with male:female ratio of 4:3. Those with cubitus varus deformity had sustained supracondylar humerus fracture and those with valgus deformity had fracture lateral condyle. All the patients had undergone native treatment immediately after injury, and presented to our department after a period of 14 months to 34 months after injury.
We have instituted step cut translational osteotomy of Hui Taek Kim [1] in all the seven patients. Preoperatively, radiological and clinical planning includes measurement of HEW angle, lateral/medial prominence index (using the method described by Wong et al [2,16]),range of motion of elbow, neurological examination for ulnar nerve and internal rotation malalignment (using the method described by Yamamoto[17,18]). Same radiological and clinical parameters were evaluated postoperatively.
HEW angle was measured by drawing two lines, one line along the anatomical axis of humerus ,and another line joining midpoints of two transverse lines(one proximal and one distal) across the forearm that connected the medial cortex of ulna and lateral cortex of radius (Fig-1). The Lateral/Medial Prominence Index was measured by using the formula shown in (Fig-2).
We determined the Correction Angle (CA) for patients with cubitus varus by adding varus HEW angle with normal side HEW angle, and for patients with cubitus valgus by subtracting normal side HEW angle from affected side valgus HEW angle. A template using X-ray film, was prepared preoperatively, to mark the site and size of osteotomy, using following technique(Fig-3).
The outline of the bone was drawn on a trace paper. A horizontal line was drawn perpendicular to anatomical axis of humerus at a level 0.5 to 1 cm proximal to the olecranon fossa. Now the trace paper was cut along the horizontal line and the distal fragment was rotated laterally and translated medially(in case of cubitus varus) so as to achieve HEW angle of normal side. Vice versa was done for cubitus valgus deformity. An inverted V was marked on the trace paper. We then cut out the triangular overlapping area from the paper and prepared X-ray film of same size and shape. This triangular X-ray film was sterilised for
use during osteotomy.

Figure 1: Humerus-Elbow-Wrist (HEW) Angle

Figure 2: Lateral/Medial Prominence Index % (LPI/MPI) LPI (%)=(AB-BC)/AC×100 LPI (%)=(AB-BC)/AC×100

Figure 3: Preop Templating

Method of Osteotomy
With the patient in lateral decubitus position,through posterior approach ,ulnar nerve was isolated and protected. The triceps aponeurosis was split. The triangular X-ray template (turned face downward because of posterior approach) was placed over the bone 1cm proximal to olecranon fossa and necessary osteotomy was done to remove an identical piece of bone. The distal fragment was rotated laterally for cubitus varus(and medially for cubitus valgus) and inserted into the inverted V shaped defect. The deformity correction was assessed clinically and then the fixation was done with distal radius T-Plate and 3.5mm cortical
screws. The ulnar nerve was transposed anteriorly in patients who had tardy ulnar nerve palsy due to cubitus valgus deformity.
Patient was immobilised in long arm slab for 2 weeks following which active and assisted mobilisation was done intermittently retaining the splint until radiological union was achieved.

Results
The HEW angle, LPI/MPI, ROM were measured and analysed (Table -1).

Table-1: Preoperative and Postoperative Measurements.
HEW- Humerus-Elbow-Wrist angle, LPI /MPI – Lateral/Medial Prominence Index, CA- Correction Angle

In cubitus varus patients, mean postoperative HEW angle was 8.50(range, 50to 100),with mean correction of 21.50(range,190 to 250). The mean improvement in LPI was 7.4% (from -13.15% to -5.75% ) .In cubitus valgus patients(Fig-5), mean postoperative HEW angle was 12.330(range, 80 to 150),with mean correction of 21.660(range,200 to 230). The mean improvement in MPI was 8.7% (from -15.5% to -6.8% ).In all patients, range of motion was comparable with normal side elbow (Table 1). Pronation and supination movements were normal in all our cases. Bone union was achieved in all patients.

Figure 4: Osteotomy and Fixation

Figure 5: X-ray(Preop and Postop)

According to Oppenheim’s criteria [7], excellent result (Fig-6) was achieved in 6 patients and good result in one patient, and no patient had poor result.

Figure 6: Lateral/Medial Prominence Index % (LPI/MPI)

Discussion
In patients with cubitus varus/valgus, the following problems need to be addressed deformity correction in coronal plane(valgus/varus), sagittal plane(fixed flexion/hyperextension),horizontal plane(internal/external rotation deformity); ulnar nerve palsy, if any.
The deformity is better corrected during childhood. Correction, particularly in cubitus varus, in adult is challenging due to mature skeleton, inherent instability at osteotomy site, risk of delayed union/non union, implant failure, infection, stiffness and neurovascular complications [19]. A rough estimate will be around a year after original injury. Again patient demands, growth potential and status of physis should be taken into account while planning surgery[20].
Major types of osteotomies are – simple closing wedge [17,21,22],step cut translation [1,17,23], dome rotational osteotomy[13,14,17,24] and spike translation osteotomy[17]. Many of these osteotomies have got their own disadvantages, like lateral scar, medial and lateral condylar prominence and difficulty in correcting rotational deformities( due to contractures)[1,24,25,26].
Various method of fixation include use of K-wires, screws, plates and external fixators (Ilizarov technique) [5,13,25,27-29]. We have used Kim’s method of step cut translation Osteotomy, and fixed with distal radius T-plate.
This method has got multiple advantages. Adequate Correction Angle (CA) is achieved by moving the apex more medially (in cubitus varus) or laterally (in cubitus valgus). The stability of fixation is enhanced because the distal fragment is inserted into the inverted V shaped proximal fragment and fixation was done with plates. The prominence of condyles (lateral condyle in cubitus varus and medial condyle in cubitus valgus) is less with Kim’s osteotomy (when compared to other methods ) because distal fragment is translated. With Kim’s osteotomy, three dimensional correction is possible. The correction of internal rotation is recommended when the difference in rotational alignment in both sides is greater than 100 [1,17,18]. In our study ,we did not encounter patient with hyperextension, or internal rotation more than 100, when compared to normal side. Hence we have not attempted correction in sagittal/horizontal planes.
The limitations of our study is smaller sample size and follow up of only 14 months duration.

Conclusion
This simple step cut translation osteotomy(Kim’s) results in good cosmetic deformity correction,very firm fixation,earlier elbow movement and also avoids problems of condylar prominence and non union. Deformities in sagittal/horizontal plane can also be corrected.

References 

1. Hui taek kim, md, Jung sub lee, md, and Chong il yoo, md. Management of cubitus varus and valgus. The journal of bone & joint surgery.Volume 87-a , number 4, april 2005.
2. K. Bali , P. Sudesh, V. Krishnan, A. Sharma, S.R.R. Manoharan, A.k. Mootha. Modified step-cut osteotomy for post-traumatic cubitus varus: our experience with 14 children. Orthopaedics & traumatology: surgery & research (2011) 97, 741-749.
3. Takagi T, Takayama S, Nakamura T, Horiuchi Y, Toyama Y,Ikegami H. Supracondylar osteotomy of the humerus to correct cubitus varus: Do both internal rotation and extension deformities need to be corrected? J bone joint surg am 2010;92(7):1619-26.
4. Pankaj A, Dua A, Malhotra A, Bhan S. Dome osteotomy for posttraumatic Cubitus varus a surgical technique to avoid lateral condylar prominence. J pediatr orthop 2006;26(1):61-6.
5.Y.H. Yun,S.J. Shin,J.G. Moon. Reverse v osteotomy of the distal humerus For the correction of cubitus varus. J bone & joint surg [br].2007;89-b:527-31.
6.Derosa GP, Graziano GP. A new osteotomy for cubitus varus. Clin orthop 1988;236:160-5.
7. Kanaujia RR, Ikuta Y, Muneshige H, Higaki T, Shimogaki K. Dome osteotomy for cubitus varus in children. Acta orthop scand 1988;59:314-17.
8. Kim HS, Jahng JS, Han DY, et al. Modified step-cut osteotomy of the humerus. J Pediatr orthop b 1988;7:162-6.
9. Koch PP, Exner GU. Supracondylar medial open wedge osteotomy with external fixation For cubitus varus deformity. J pediatr orthop b 2003;12:116-22.
10. Laupattarakasem W, Mahaisavariya B, Kowsuwon W, Saengnipanthkul S. Pentalateral osteotomy for cubitus varus: clinical experiences of a new technique. J Bone joint surg [br] 1989;71-b:667-70.
11. Oppenheim WL, Clader TJ, Smith C, Bayer M. Supracondylar humeral osteotomy For traumatic childhood cubitus varus deformity. Clin orthop 1984;188:34-9.
12. Uchida Y, Ogata K, Sugioka Y. A new three-dimensional osteotomy for cubitus Varus deformity after supracondylar fracture of the humerus in children. J pediatr Orthop 1991;11:327-31.
13. Bellemore MC, Barrett IR, Middleton RW, Scougall JS, Whiteway DW. Supracondylar osteotomy of the humerus with correction of cubitus varus. J bone joint surg br 1984;66(4):566-72.
14. Matsushita t, Nagano a. Arc osteotomy of the humerus to correct cubitus varus. Clin orthop relat res 1997;336:111-5.
15. Tien YC, Chih HW, Lin GT, Lin SY. Dome corrective osteotomy for cubitus varus deformity. Clin orthop relat res 2000;380:158-66.
16.Wong HK, Lee EH, Balasubramaniam P.The lateral condylar prominence. A complication of supracondylar osteotomy for cubitus varus. J bone joint surg br 1990;72:859-61.
17. Ali Moradi MD, Ehsan Vahedi MD,Mohammad H.Ebrahimzadeh MD. Spike Translation: A New Modification in Step-cut Osteotomy for Cubitus Varus Deformity. Clin Orthop Relat Res (2013) 471:1564–1571.
18. Yamamoto I, Ishii S, Usui M, Ogino T, Kaneda K. Cubitus varus deformity following supracondylar fracture of the humerus: a method for measuring rotational deformity. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1985;201:179–185.
19. S Pandey, A Shrestha, AP Regmi, A Prajapati, S Dhakal and G Neupane. Cubitus varus in young adults correction with lateral closing wedge osteotomy and screw, k-wire and ss-wire fixation.Journal of Chitwan Medical College; 2012, 1(2); 60-62.
20. Sandeep patwardhan , Ashok k shyam. Cubitus varus deformity – rationale of treatment and methods. International journal of paediatric orthopaedics | volume 1 | issue 1 | july-sep 2015 | page 26-29.
21. Graham B, Tredwell SJ, Beauchamp RD, Bell HM. Supracondylar osteotomy of the humerus for correction of cubitus varus. J Pediatr Orthop. 1990;10:228–231.
22. Voss FR, Kasser JR, Trepman E, Simmons E Jr, Hall JE. Uniplanar supracondylar humeral osteotomy with preset Kirschner wires for posttraumatic cubitus varus. J Pediatr Orthop. 1994;14:471–478.
23. Davids JR,Lamoreaux DC, Brooker RC,Tanner SL, Westberry DE.Translation step-cut osteotomy for the treatment of posttraumatic cubitus varus.J Pediatr Orthop. 2011;31:353-365
24. Labelle H, Bunnell WP, Duhaime M, Poitras B. Cubitus varus deformity following supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children. J Pediatr Orthop. 1982;2:539–546.
25. French PR. Varus deformity of the elbow following supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children. Lancet. 1959;2:439-41.
26. King D, Secor C. Bow elbow (cubitus varus). J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1951; 33:572-6.
27. Carlson CS Jr, Rosman MA. Cubitus varus: a new and simple technique for correction. J Pediatr Orthop 1982;2:199-201.
28. Levine MJ. Horn BD, Pizzutillo PD. Treatment of posttraumatic cubitus varus in pediatric population with humeral osteotomy and external fixation. J Pediatr Orthop 1996;16:597-601.
29. Karatosun V, Alekberov C, Alici E, Ardic CO, Aksu G. Treatment of cubitus varus using the Ilizarov technique of distraction osteogenesis. J Bone Joint Surg [Br]2000;82-B:1030-3.

Dr Dhurvas Ramlal Ramprasath

Dr. Vasudevan Thirunarayanan

Dr. Murugan Shanmuga Sundaram

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Volume 2 | Issue 2 | May-Aug 2016 | Page 24-28|Donald S Bae

Authors : Donald S Bae [1]

[1 ] Dept of Orthopaedic Surgery 300 Longwood Avenue, Hunnewell 2 Boston, MA 02115.

Address of Correspondence
Dr Donald S. Bae
Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
Harvard Medical School
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery 300 Longwood Avenue, Hunnewell 2 Boston, MA 02115
Email: Donald.bae@childrens.harvard.edu

Abstract

Radial longitudinal dysplasia continues to challenge the pediatric hand and upper limb surgeon. Despite decades of clinical experience and research, surgical strategies to improve wrist alignment and upper limb function remain imperfect, with persistent concerns regarding recurrent deformity, stiffness, and distal ulnar growth disturbance. For these reasons, many authors have proposed alternative treatment paradigms to traditional centralization techniques. The purpose of this review is to explore the arguments for surgical treatment, to identify the potential sequelae of traditional centralization, and to present an “alternative treatment paradigm” for radial longitudinal dysplasia.

Key Words: Radial longitidinal dysplasia, centralization, bilobe flap

Introduction
Radial longitudinal dysplasia (RLD) refers to failure of formation of the radial aspects of the hand and forearm, and is currently classified as an abnormality of formation and differentiation of the antero-posterior axis of the developing upper limb by the Oberg-Manske-Tonkin classification system [1].The incidence is thought to be between 1 in 30,000 and 100,000 live births , and RLD has a slight male and right-sided predisposition. Over half of patients have bilateral upper limb involvement.
There is a broad spectrum of anatomic anomalies involving the skeletal, muscular, and neurovascular structures, and associated syndromes are common, including VACTERL association, Holt-Oram syndrome, Cornelia de Lange syndrome, thrombocytopenia-absent radius, Diamond-Blackfan anemia, Rothmund-Thomson syndrome, and Fanconi’s anemia [2,3,4,5]. A host of condition-specific schemes have been proposed, based mostly upon the severity of bony involvement, and to date the modified Bayne and Klug classification continues to be used by most providers [6,7].
Overall, the goals of treatment include maximizing upper limb and hand function, ideally by preserving wrist motion, improving wrist alignment, maintaining limb length and growth potential, and preserving the ability for subsequent hand reconstruction and pollicization. Furthermore, the aesthetic differences –and secondary effects thereof– imparted by RLD must be recognized and considered in an appropriate fashion.
A host of questions continue to be raised with the growing experience of RLD treatment, particularly with longer term follow-up and patient-derived functional outcome measures. What is the natural history of RLD? Is surgical treatment for deformity correction worthwhile? And if so, what is the best method of treatment to maximize function and minimize complications?
The purpose of this review will be to address these questions using the available information from India and the United States, and in doing so, present an alternative treatment algorithm for patients with RLD.

Natural History versus Surgical Reconstruction
With any congenital difference, the first fundamental task of the pediatric orthopaedic surgeon is to understand the natural history of the condition and the comparative outcomes of natural history versus surgical treatment. Kotwal et al. published an important paper seeking to address this fundamental question as it relates to RLD [8]. One hundred and three patients with RLD treated non-operatively were compared to 239 patients treated with surgical reconstruction. All patients had Bayne type 3 or 4 deficiency and were treated at a single center from 1985 to 2004. Patients were assessed according to standard clinical parameters, radiographic measurement of the hand-forearm angle (HFA), and visual analogue scores (VAS) for pain and aesthetic appearance. Grip strength was evaluated using dynamometry, though pinch strength was not measured due to the heterogeneity of hand/thumb involvement. The Prosthetic Upper Extremity Functional Index (PUFI), originally developed to evaluate function in patients with transverse upper limb deficiencies, was used to assess upper limb function.
Non-operative treatment consisted of early stretching, serial casting, splinting, and.or functional bracing. Centralization consisted of centralization (n=202) or radialization (n=107) via an ulnar incision, excising redundant ulnar skin, notching the carpus, reefing the wrist joint capsule, preserving the distal ulnar physis, and stabilizing with a 1.6mm Kirschner (K-) wire [9,10]. Tendon transfers were performed in selected cases. Radialization was performed in a similar fashion, though tendon transfers were more commonly performed and K-wire fixation was achieved through the index metacarpal [11].
Overall, patients with type 3 and 4 RLD treated with surgical reconstruction demonstrated better PUFI scores, had improved HFA, and reported improved aesthetics than non-operatively treated patients. However, surgical patients also had decreased wrist range of motion (ROM), and interestingly functional results as assessed by the PUFI correlated best with digital ROM, regardless of treatment type. Ekblom et al. similarly reported that digital and wrist ROM is more important for activity and participation than HFA in their analysis of 20 patients with RLD [12]. Holtslag et al. similarly found that only ROM of the didgits correlated with function, as assessed by the Sequential Occupational Dexterity Assessment [13]. No significant differences in activity and participation between patients with mild versus severe RLD. Thus, while there is published information suggesting that surgical treatment provides functional, alignment, and aesthetic improvements that are superior to natural history, it is important to remember the importance of wrist and digital ROM in upper extremity and hand function.

Concerns with centralization
Surgical treatment in the form of centralization or radialization is not without concerns. First the longevity of correction and functional improvement continues to be debated. In their longer-term follow-up study of 25 wrists treated with centralization, Goldfarb et al. reported recurrent deformity (HFA of 25 degrees), limited wrist ROM (mean arc 31 degrees) and forearm shortening (ulnar length 54%), perhaps due to iatrogenic distal ulnar physeal disturbance [14].
In efforts to minimize the soft-tissue tension and thus the risks of recurrent deformity, stiffness, and growth arrest, many authors have advocated pre-centralization distraction using a host of external fixation constructs. In theory, pre-centralization distraction reduces soft tissue tension, facilitates centralization, obviates the need for carpal notching or prolonged implant placement which may contribute to distal physeal disturbance. Thatte and Mehta reported on a series of 29 wrists treated with distraction and subsequent radialization at a young age [15]. HFA improved from 74 to 10 degrees, ulnar length was maintained at over 70%, and correction was maintained at mean 6.5 year follow-up. These results are excellent by all accounts, but have not been consistently reproduced in all centers.
Manske et al. compared 13 wrists treated with centralization alone to 13 wrists treated with centralization preceeded by distraction [16]. With centralization alone, HFA improved from 53 degrees pre-operatively to 13 degrees immediately post-operatively to 27 degrees at most recent follow-up. With pre-operative distraction, HFA improved from 53 degrees pre-operatively to 21 degrees immediately post-operatively to 36 degrees at last follow-up. Based upon the similar amount of recurrence, the authors concluded that distraction may facilitate surgical centralization but does not necessarily minimize recurrence. Similar findings were noted by Dana et al. in a series of 8 patients with over two-year follow-up, as well as Lamb et al, McCarthy et al., Shariatzadeh et al, and others [17,18,19,20].
The second concern with centralization techniques has been the risk of iatrogenic ulnar growth disturbance, resulting in upper limb length discrepancy and shortening of an already dysplastic forearm. Potential factors contributing to the risk of ulnar physeal arrest include devascularization from soft tissue dissection around the distal ulna, carpal notching and increased pressure imparted on the distal ulna during centralization, as well as the placement and retention of an intramedullary implant crossing the ulnar physis. Sestero et al. evaluated ulnar growth patterns in 124 limbs of 90 patients and found decreasing ulnar growth in patients treated with non-notching and notching centralization techniques [21]. Indeed, non-operatively treated limbs retained 64% of “normal” length, whereas those patients who underwent non-notching and notching techniques of centralization had ulnar lengths of 58% and 48%, respectively.
To counteract and address both recurrent radial deviation deformity as well as ulnar shortening, several authors have proposed late reconstruction consistent of ulnar lengthening with or without subsequent ulnocarpal arthrodesis. Farr et al. reported on 8 forearm lengthenings performed in 6 patients at mean age of 10 years [22]. At almost 5 year followup, a mean of 7cm of lengthening was achieved. HFA improved from 25 degrees pre-operatively to 11 degrees post-operatively, though recurrent deformity was again observed, with a final follow-up HFA of 23 degrees.
Arthrodesis –or chondrodesis in the skeletally immature—allows for correction of wrist deformity at the expense of ulnocarpal motion. Pike et al. reported on 12 patients with recurrent radial deviation of greater than 45 degrees who underwent ulnocarpal chondrodesis with Kirschner (K-) wire fixation [23]. Patients had a mean post-oeprative DASH score of 24.5, with visual analog scores (VAS) of 7 and 8 for appearance and function, respectively.
Based on these and many other reports, the “classic” or traditional treatment algorithm in the United States and around the world has been (Fig. 1) early splinting, stretching and/or casting, followed by centralization with or without pre-operatively distraction. For those with recurrent deformity and/or excessive limb length discrepancy, ulnar lengthening and ulnocarpal chondrodesis or arthrodesis may be considered.

Figure 1: “Traditional” treatment algorithm for radial longitudinal dysplasia, utilizing centralization or radialization.

Is there another way?
While commonly utilized, the drawbacks of recurrent deformity, additional limb length discrepancy, and loss of wrist motion despite multiple surgeries have motivated many providers to consider alternative treatment options. Ideally, surgical treatment should preserve wrist motion and forearm length, and in doing so maximize hand and upper limb function. To this end, several authors from the United States and around the world have proposed an alternative treatment algorithm consisting of two stages (Fig. 2).

Figure 2: An alternative treatment paradigm for radial longitudinal dysplasia, emphasizing soft-tissue releases via bilobe flap reconstruction, which acknowledges risks of recurrent deformity after centralization and prioritizes preservation of wrist motion and distal ulnar physeal integrity

The first surgical step in this algorithm is addressing radial deviation of the wrist through soft tissue releases, capsulorraphy, and tendon transfers via bilobe flap reconstruction [24,25]. Philosophically, this represents a departure from traditional tenets of RLD surgery; the focus of releases is to improve wrist alignment while judiciously preserving the distal ulnar physis. Wrist motion is prioritized over alignment, given the evidence that function is most directly correlated to wrist and digital motion and that typical surgical interventions result in recurrence.
Technically, a bilobed flap may be performed either dorsally or volarly, depending upon surgeon preference and awareness of the aesthetic implications of dorsal scars and/or color mismatch between the dorsal and volar skin (Fig. 3). A proximally based flap is designed longitudinally which will be rotated or transposed to provide skin and soft tissue to the tight, often deficient radial wrist. A second lobe is based proximally and incorporating the excessive ulnar soft tissues, which will be rotated to cover the dorsal donor area. Careful flap elevation is performed to maintain vascularity to these random patterned flaps, with care to preserve subcutaneous nerve and vein, when possible. After the flaps have been elevated and mobilized, near circumferential exposure of the deeper structures is possible. Tight radial-sided structures are release, the ulnar capsule may be incised and imbricated, and tendon transfers (particular flexors to ulnar extensors) may be performed to achieve dynamic rebalancing across the wrist. Great care is made to preserve all the soft tissues around the distal ulna in efforts to preserve its vascularity and integrity of the distal ulnar physis. Temporary K-wire stabilization may be performed from the ulnar metaphysis to the carpus, avoiding wire passage across the distal ulnar physis. Splinting, therapy, and ROM exercises are begun at 4-6 weeks post-operatively.

Figure 3: Clinical photographs depicting elements of soft-tissue release via a volar bilobed flap. (a) Pre-operative resting position, depicting radial deviation of the wrist and a hypoplastic thumb. (b) After pre-operative stretching and splinting, the wrist may be passively stretched to neutral position. (c, d, e) Intra-operative photographs depicting the (c) radial, (d) volar, and (e) ulnar aspects of the incision. A volar approach was chosen given the aesthetic advantages of leaving the dorsal wrist free of scars. (f) Intra-operative photograph after flap elevation, allowing for access to the musculotendinous units for release and/or transfer. Note the soft-tissues about the distal ulnar physis are carefully preserved. (g) Intra-operative depiction of flap rotation, providing tissue to the previously taught radial wrist. (h, i) Clinical photographs after wound closure, demonstrating improved alignment of the wrist. (j) At 3 months post-operatively, incisions are well healed, flaps remain viable, and the wrist is supple with improved resting alignment. (All images courtesy of Children’s Orthopaedic Surgery Foundation, copyright 2016)

Vuillermin et al. published their series of 18 wrists in 16 patients treated with soft tissue release and bilobe flap reconstruction [24]. A t mean 9 year follow-up, HFA improved modestly from 88 degrees pre-operatively to 64 degrees at most recent follow-up. However, patients maintained a mean of 73 degree wrist flexion-extension and had Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) scores and global Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument (PODCI) scores of 27 and 88, respectively. VAS scores for overall satisfaction were quite high (mean 1.2 on a 10 point scale). These patient-derived measures of outcome compare favorably to other published information regarding the results of centralization. Importantly, there were no physeal growth disturbances, and no patients went on to secondary ulnocarpal chondrodeses or other salvage procedures.
After soft-tissue releases via bilobe flap reconstruction, subsequent soft-tissue distraction and free vascularized metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint transfer may be performed in a secondary staged fashion [26,27]. Pioneered by Dr. Vilkki, free MTP joint transfer provide an attractive, albeit technically demanding, option to provide more durable carpal support and maintain more normal HFA.
As originally described, distraction lengthening is performed across the ulnar aspect of the wrist, with half pin or smooth wire fixation into both the proximal ulna and ulnar metacarpals [27]. Once adequate distraction has been achieved and more normal wrist alignment restored, free second MTP joint transfer is performed. Arterial inflow is typically achieved from the radial artery to the plantar metatarsal artery. Local veins are used for venous outflow. More extensive radial soft tissues are released, with the native FCR split and reattached to the donor toe flexor and extensor apparatus. K-wire fixation is typically utilized to fix the proximal ulna to the donor metatarsal as well as the radial metacarpals to the donor proximal phalanx; the previously applied fixator is retained for additional support during the early postoperative period. The transferred joint forms a Y-shaped “strut” to support the radial wrist and hand, thereby maintaining HFA while still allowing for wrist motion.
Vilkki previously reported on 19 wrists in 18 patients treated with distraction and MTP joint transfer. At mean 11 year follow-up, HFA was 28 degrees and wrist flexion-extension arc averaged 83 degrees [27,28]. While there was increased radial deviation over time, this change averaged 12 degrees over 10 to 15 years follow-up. Ulnar length is typically preserved, with length approximating two-thirds of normal.
While the author has no personal experience with free vascularized joint transfer, it should be noted that this procedure is generally delayed until later in childhood, given the technical challenges of the procedure. Interestingly, multiple authors have reported that patients often decline secondary MTP joint transfers, given their satisfaction and function following soft-tissue releases via bilobed flap reconstructions [25].
While early reports highlight the theoretical advantages in preserving motion and growth, the merits of this “alternative algorithm” bear further investigation. At present, there is little published information to compare the relative efficacy, durability, and long-term patient-reported functional outcomes of traditional centralization versus soft-tissue releases with or without free MTP joint transfer. In the United States, a multicenter prospective longitudinal cohort study is underway to address this, and other, important congenital questions [29].

References 

1. Oberg KC, Feenstra JM, Manske PR, Tonkin MA. Developmental biology and classificationof congenital anomalies of the hand and upper extremity. J Hand Surg Am 2010; 35: 2066-2076.
2. Goldfarb CA, Manske PR, Busa R, Mills J, Carter P, Ezaki M. Upper-extremity phocomelia reexamined: a longitudinal dysplasia. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2005; 87: 2639-2648.
3. James MA, McCarroll HR, Manske PR. Characteristics of patients with hypoplastic thumbs. J Hand Surg Am 1996; 21: 104-113.
4. Shimamura A. Inherited bone marrow failure syndromes: molecular features. Heamtology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program 2006: 63-71.
5. Waters PM, Bae DS. Radial Longitudinal Deficiency. In: Pediatric Hand and Upper Limb Surgery: A Practical Approach. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2012, pp 121-131.
6. Bayne LG, Klug MS. Long-term review of the surgical treatment of radial deficiencies. J Hand Surg Am 1987; 12: 169-179.
7. James MA, McCarroll HR, James MA, Manske PR. The spectrum of radial longitudinal deficiency: a modified classification. J Hand Surg Am 1999; 24: 1145-1155.
8. Kotwal PP, Varshney MK, Soral A. Comparison of surgical treatment and nonoperative management for radial longitudinal deficiency. J Hand Surg Eur 2012; 37: 161-169.
9. Bora FW, Osterman AL, Kaneda RR, Esterhai J. Radial club-hand deformity Long-term follow-up. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1981, 63: 741–5.
10. Manske PR, McCarroll HR, Swanson K. Centralization of the radial club hand: An ulnar surgical approach. J Hand Surg Am. 1981, 6: 423–33.
11. Buck-Gramcko D. Radialization as a new treatment for radial club hand. J Hand Surg Am. 1985, 10: 964–68.
12. Ekblom AG, Dahlin LB, Rosberg HE, Wiig M, Werner M, Arner M. Hand function in children with radial longitudinal deficiency. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 2013; 14: 116-130.
13. Holtslag I, van Wijk I, Hartog H, van der Molen AM, van der Sluis C. Long-term functional outcome of patients with longitudinal radial deficiency: cross-sectional evaluation of function, activity, and participation. Disabil Rehab 2013; 35: 1401-1407.
14. Goldfarb CA, Klepps SJ, Dailey LA, Manske PR. Functional outcome after centralization for radius dysplasia. J Hand Surg Am 2002; 27: 118-124.
15. Thatte MR, Mehta R. Treatment of radial dysplasia by a combination of distraction, radialisation, and a bilobed flap- the results at 5-year follow-up. J Hand Surg Eur 2008; 33: 616-621.
16. Manske MC, Wall LB, Steffen JA, Goldfarb CA. The effect of soft tissue distraction on deformity recurrence after centralization for radial longitudinal deficiency. J Hand Surg Am 2014; 39: 895-901.
17. Dana C, Auregan JC, Salon A, Cuero S, Glorion C, Pannier S. Recurrence of radial bowing after soft tissue distraction and subsequent radialization for radial longitudinal deficiency. J Hand Surg Am 2012; 37: 2082-2087.
18. Lamb DW. Radial club hand: a continuing study of sixty-eight patients with one hundred and seventeen club hands. J Bone Joint Surg 1977; 59: 1-13.
19. McCarthy JJ, Kozin SH, Tuohy C, Cheung E, Davidson RS, Noonan K. External fixation and centralization versus external fixation and ulnar osteotomy: the treatment of radial dysplasia using the resolved total angle of deformity. J Pediatr Orthop 2009; 29: 797-803.
20. Shariatzadeh H, Jafari D, Taheri H, Mazhar FN. Recurrence rate after radial club hand surgery in long term follow up. J Res Med Sci 2009; 14: 179-186.
21. Sestero AM, Van Heest A, Agel J. Ulnar growth patterns in radial longitudinal deficiency. J Hand Surg Am 2006; 31: 960-967.
22. Farr S, Petje G, Sadoghi P, Ganger R, Grill F, Girsch W. Radiographic early to midterm results of distraction osteogenesis in radial longitudinal deficiency. J Hand Surg Am 2012; 37: 2313-2319.
23. Pike JM, Manske PR, Steffen JA, Goldfarb CA. Ulnocarpal epiphyseal arthrodesis for recurrent deformity after centralization for radial longitudinal deficiency. J Hand Surg Am 2010; 35: 1755-1761.
24. Vuillermin C, Wall L, Mills J, Wheeler L, Rose R, Ezaki M, Oishi S. Soft tissue release and bilobed flap for severe radial longitudinal deficiency. J Hand Surg 2015; 40: 894-899.
25. Wall LB, Ezaki M, Oishi SN. Management of congential radial longitudinal deficiency: controversies and current concepts. Plast Reconstr Surg 2013; 132: 122-128.
26. De Jong, JP, Moran SL, Vilkki SK. Changing paradigms in the treatment of radial club hand: microvascular joint transfer for correction of radial deviation and preservation of long-term growth. Clin Orthop Surg 2012; 4: 36-44.
27. Vilkki SK. Distraction and microvascular epiphysis transfer for radial club hand. J Hand Surg Br, 1998; 23: 445-452.
28. Vilkke SK. Vascularized metatarsophalangeal joint transfer for radial hypoplasia. Semin Plast Surg 2008; 22: 195-212.
29. Bae DS, Canizares MF, Miller PE, Roberts S, VUillermin C, Wall LB, Waters PM, Goldfarb CA. Intraobserver and interobserver reliability of the Oberg-Manske-Tonkin (OMT) classification: establishing a registry on congenital upper limb differences. J Pediatr Orthop 2016 Feb 2 [epub ahead of print].PMID 26840275.
26. De Jong, JP, Moran SL, Vilkki SK. Changing paradigms in the treatment of radial club hand: microvascular joint transfer for correction of radial deviation and preservation of long-term growth. Clin Orthop Surg 2012; 4: 36-44.
27. Vilkki SK. Distraction and microvascular epiphysis transfer for radial club hand. J Hand Surg Br, 1998; 23: 445-452.
28. Vilkke SK. Vascularized metatarsophalangeal joint transfer for radial hypoplasia. Semin Plast Surg 2008; 22: 195-212.
29. Bae DS, Canizares MF, Miller PE, Roberts S, VUillermin C, Wall LB, Waters PM, Goldfarb CA. Intraobserver and interobserver reliability of the Oberg-Manske-Tonkin (OMT) classification: establishing a registry on congenital upper limb differences. J Pediatr Orthop 2016 Feb 2 [epub ahead of print].PMID 26840275.

Dr. Donald S. Bae

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