Pollicization of 3B Thumb Hypoplasia with Vascularized Fat Flap

Video Description

For children born with an absent or deficient thumb, index finger pollicization (making into a thumb) restores much of the function and appearance of a thumb. The decision to ablate an existing but deficient thumb is never easy for parents. However, if the child bypasses the thumb and uses the index finger for pinch and grasp, they are telling us that their brain does not perceive the thumb as a functional thumb, instead having shifted the "thumb" part of the brain to the index finger. Typically children remain in a cast for 4 weeks after surgery, after which 2 months of therapy and splinting are required.