Recurrence rate of radial deviation following the centralization surgery of radial club hand

Background: Congenital radial club hand (RCH), as a rare congenital deformity of the upper extremity, is characterized by a wide spectrum of malformations including radial deviation. Centralization surgery is the standard treatment for severe cases that have been associated with a high rate of recurrence. This study reports the long-term results and recurrence rate of radial deviation following the centralization surgery of RCH. Methods: The medical records of 13 congenital RCH patients (16 hands), who underwent centralization surgery, were reviewed retrospectively. Hand-forearm angle (HFA), hand-forearm position (HFP), and ulnar bow (UB) were used to assess forearm angles. Results: The mean age of the patients was 19.4±8.9 months, and their mean follow-up was 62.1±39.9 months. The mean HFA correction was 29.4°±23.9°, the mean HFA recurrence was 13.3°±13.7°, the mean correction of HFP was 13.4±7.3 mm, and the mean recurrence of HFP was 1.4±2.8 mm. The mean UB showed 7.6°±12.5° correction immediately after surgery and a further 3.6°±7.3° at the last follow-up (overall 11.2°±17.6°). A number of 12 out of 13 parents were completely satisfied with the results. Conclusion: According to our results, an acceptable long-term result is expected after the centralization surgery of RCH. However, the risk of the recurrent radial deviation is high and needs to be optimized in future investigations.