guidebook. - Fanconi Anemia Research Fund

104
Fanconi Anemia: Guidelines for Diagnosis and Management
Figure 5: Pollicization requires meticulous surgical technique to
give the appearance and function of a thumb. (Courtesy of
Shriners Hospital for Children, Philadelphia)
The results after pollicization are directly related to the
status of the index finger prior to surgery. A stiff index
finger will provide a stable thumb for gross grasp, but
fine pinch is unlikely. In contrast, a mobile index finger
transferred to the thumb position can provide stability
for grasp and mobility for fine pinch (Figure 6). Early
good results after pollicization have been shown to
persist into adulthood.
Other thumb anomalies
Although hypoplasia is the most common thumb
anomaly in FA children, other abnormalities have been
reported. The thumb can possess an extra bone (a.k.a.
triphalangeal thumb) or can be duplicated. The exact
prevalence of these anomalies is unknown.