The digit tips of children and rodents are known to regenerate following amputation. The skeletal structure that regenerates is the distal region of the terminal phalangeal bone that is associated with the nail organ. The terminal phalanx forms late in gestation by endochondral ossification and continues to elongate until sexual maturity (8 weeks of age). Postnatal elongation at its distal end ...

Resection of the midzone of the continuous epiphysis of a delta phalanx (physiolysis) and its replacement by a free-fat graft from local tissue was performed to improve severe radial angulation of the both thumbs in a 22-month-old child with Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome. Fifty-two months after surgery, satisfactory results were obtained for pinch function, appearance, and radiographic findings. Pr...

Previous studies have referred to the degree of dorsal canting of the base of the proximal phalanx as an indicator of human-like metatarsophalangeal joint function and thus a diagnostic trait of habitual bipedality in the fossil record. Here, we used a simple method to investigate differences in forefoot function on a finer scale. Building on Duncan et al.'s (Am J Phys Anthropol 93 [1994] 67-81...

a painful 'sore' on the medial aspect of his left little toe over the preceding month but had pain in the toe intermittently for some years. At the time of presentation the toe was attached only by a piece of thick skin on the lateral side of the toe, good volume peripheral pulses were present in the foot and sensation was normal (Fig. 1). He had no significant past medical history. Radiologica...

Foot is an unusual site for chondrosarcoma and involvement of phalanges is extremely rare. We report a case of grade 2 chondrosarcoma of proximal phalanx resulting in its fracture along with transarticular extension to the middle phalanx of the 2(nd) toe of right foot in a 62 year old female. The patient presented with 1 and (1/2) year history of pain and swelling in right 2(nd) toe. X-ray show...

This study reports five cases of crush-avulsion injury to the thumb at different levels presented at our plastic and hand surgery unit between 2005 and 2007. All of the patients were male labors with machine injuries to the thumb with non-replantable amputations. Distal phalanx or proximal phalanx, or both, were used as a free cortical bone graft. The amputated part was skeletonized keeping the...

The arterial system of fingers is anatomically well described, and so, usually no difficulties arise during its preparation and the making of anastomoses in replantation surgery. Difficulties may occur, however, during manipulation in the dorsal vascular bed of fingers, known only as a random venous network. There are minimal references to its existence and the location of its valvular apparatu...