Mirror Hand: An Uncommon Neglected Case Managed with Pollicisation

Mirror hand or ulnar dimelia is a very rare congenital anomaly characterized by symmetric duplication of the upper limb in the midline. In most cases there is mirrored symmetry with a central digit and 3 digits on either side representing the middle ring and small fingers. The thumb is absent despite presence of seven digits. There is duplication of ulna and absence of radius. The preaxial ulna is often hypoplastic and supports the duplicated carpal elements.1 There are a few case reports of this rare anomaly. We report another case of mirror hand. It falls under I2bv according to IFSSH2 classification and type 1 in Al-Quattan classification.3 A 15 year old female patient presented with multiple fingers in her right hand with short forearm and radial deviation on flexion of the wrist. She was the first child of non consanguineous parents with normal antenatal history. None of her siblings had any congenital disorders. She had underwent corrective osteotomy with ring fixator for correcting the wrist flexion and radial deviation three years prior to reporting to us for management of polydactyly. She had seven digits in her right hand that were arranged symmetrically as mirror images on either side of a sagittal axis. There was no thumb present. The forearm was short with evidence of scars of previous surgery (Figure 1). Movements at shoulder were grossly normal while that at the elbow and wrist were restricted in all range. On examination of function of hand the precise finger movements were absent and only crude grasp was evident. X-ray showed seven triphalangeal digits in right hand with corresponding metacarpals. There were two ulnae and both were shorter than the normal opposite limb. The peraxial ulna was hypoplastic with broad distal end that tapered proximally. The Radius was absent in the affected limb (Figure 1). In order to improve her hand function, it was decided to perform pollicisation. The third radial digit had more length and wider web space, and was therefore chosen for reconstruction of the thumb. The remaining two radial digits were amputated. Technique of pollicisation: The lateral two digits were amputated; the skin incisions and fillet flaps were designed to maintain good vascularity and provide a wide first web space (Figure 2). The digital vessel of third ray was dissected and isolated. The communication between third and fourth ray at web were cut and ligated then shaft of third metacarpal removed sparing its head and base. The flexor and extensor tendon of third ray were shortened by plication. The intrinsic Muscles were atrophic for lateral two digits and hypoplastic for the third one. Department of Plastic Surgery, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India