Use of a Medial Femoral Condyle Free Flap for Metacarpal Reconstruction of Type IIIC Congenital Thumb Hypoplasia.

J Hand Surg Glob Online · Sep 25 2026 · Recent

Allen BE, Pawlak N, Smith AC, Tipps JA, Reed ER, Burjak D, et al.

Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the…

Hand & Upper Extremity Pediatric Orthopaedics

SUMMARY — THE REDUCTIONCase report of a 14-year-old with Blauth IIIc thumb hypoplasia whose first metacarpal was reconstructed with a medial femoral condyle free flap, preserving a five-digit hand with stable post, healing, and minimal donor morbidity.
Abstract, as published

This is a case report of a 14-year-old girl with a Blauth Type IIIc hypoplastic thumb who underwent metacarpal reconstruction with a medial femoral condyle flap to preserve a five-digit hand. At the patient's 9-month follow-up, imaging demonstrated complete bone healing at both the first metacarpal recipient site and the donor site. At 17 months after surgery, the patient is satisfied with the appearance and improved function as she now has a stable post with a small amount of thumb abduction and adduction, with minimal donor site morbidity. The patient has elected not to undergo the planned second stage of opposition transfer, first webspace deepening, and tendon transfer for the time being, although these procedures may increase her function further. This case presents a novel application of the MFC flap to preserve a five-digit hand in a patient with congenital thumb hypoplasia, with minimal donor site morbidity.

Featured in the 2026-10-08 issue.

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