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Brachydactyly Types D and E

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Pediatric Hand Surgery

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Abstract

The J. Bell’s classification describes two types of hand ray shortening, namely, brachydactyly types D and E, which have a lot in common. When a child suffers either of these diseases, he/she is born with a hand that appears to be absolutely healthy, but when he/she is between four and 7 years of age, his/her parents notice the first signs of progressive shortening of one or several fingers. Although these pathologies are differentiated as two brachydactyly types, they are just different manifestations of the same disease with common etiology and pathogenesis, with similar complaints, and with similar surgical-treatment approaches.

Brachydactyly type E is shortening of one or several metacarpals and is also known as brachymetacarpia.

Brachydactyly type D is shortening of distal phalanx in the thumb where the nail plate looks extremely short but wide.

Indications for surgical treatment are mainly cosmetic for brachydactyly type E and are only cosmetic for brachydactyly type D.

The preferred treatment for both types of brachydactyly is distraction lengthening.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Candidate of Medical Sciences, Head of the Department of Traumatology N3, St. Petersburg State University Hospital, St Petersburg, Russia

    Zavarukhin V. Ivanovich

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  1. Zavarukhin V. Ivanovich
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hand Surgery and Rehabilitation, S. Giuseppe MultiMedica Hospital, Milan University, Milano, Italy

    Giorgio Pajardi

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Ivanovich, Z.V. (2023). Brachydactyly Types D and E. In: Pajardi, G. (eds) Pediatric Hand Surgery. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-30984-7_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-30984-7_12

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-30983-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-30984-7

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