Introduction: Distal radius physeal growth arrest in children secondary to trauma is a rare complication. Various modalities of surgical treatment exist. Correction of severe deformity by a single-stage surgery is rare in current literature. We describe a case of surgically treated posttraumatic manus valgus deformity in an adolescent female with a satisfactory surgical outcome.
Case report: A 13-year-old right-hand dominant girl presented to us with a painless, gradually progressive left wrist deformity for the past 3 years. She sustained a left wrist injury 3.5 years back for which she received native treatment. She was able to do most of her daily activities and cosmetic disability was her primary concern. She had a 20° fixed radial deviation deformity with further radial deviation up to 60°. Forearm rotation was from 70° supination to 60° pronation. Her pre-operative Mayo Modified Wrist Score was 25/10/10/25/70 (Pain/Satisfaction/Range of motion/Grip strength/Total). Radiologically, there was the obliteration of lateral distal radial physis with overgrowth of medial physis. Distal ulnar physeal overgrowth led to positive ulnar variance. Radiologically, the magnitude of deformity was 43° manus valgus (+24° radial inclination). We performed dome osteotomy at distal radius metaphysis with distal radius plating through modified Henry approach. Simultaneous ulnar diaphyseal shortening osteotomy with plate fixation was done through a dorsal approach and distal ulnar epiphysiodesis was done by physeal drilling to prevent future overgrowth. At 13 months follow-up, the wrist has clinically no deformity and radiologically 5° manus valgus (+24° radial inclination). Both the osteotomy sites have united and ulnar variance is restored. Now, her ulnar deviation was 20° and radial deviation was 30°. Her forearm rotational arc was maintained. Mayo Modified Wrist Score was 25/25/10/25/85 (Pain/Satisfaction/Range of motion/Grip strength/Total) with no hindrance of daily activity.
Conclusion: Correction of wrist deformity, restoration of ulnar variance, and normal wrist mechanics is possible in a single-stage surgery with judicious planning and can provide satisfactory result.
Keywords: Wrist; manus; osteotomy; physis; valgus.
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