A case of mirror hand deformity with a 17-year postoperative follow up. Case report.

We present a case of a boy with a congenital upper-extremity malformation, including aplasia of the radius, double ulna, aplasia of the thumb, and polydactyly with a 17-year postoperative follow-up. The whole extremity, particularly the upper arm and shoulder girdle were hypoplastic. There was restriction of movement of the elbow and a flexion contracture of the wrist. At an age of 2 years he had three hypoplastic fingers resected and pollicisation of the third accessory finger. The thenar was reconstructed by interosseous muscle transfers and the flexion contracture corrected by a flexor tendon transfer. Preoperative electromyographic studies showed that he had two ulnar nerves with cross-innervation of the median nerve. Further improvements (including tendon transfer of the flexor carpi radialis) were made 16 years after the primary operation. At the age of 18 years the patient has satisfactory function of his left hand.