Ulna hemimelia, Ulna Club hand, Ulna Dysplasia/Aplasia
What is Ulna Longitudinal Deficiency?
Children with ulna longitudinal deficiency are born with their wrist in a bent position toward the little finger side of the hand. The fingers and thumb may also be affected. Other muscles and nerves in the hand may be unbalanced or missing.
There are two bones in your baby’s forearm: the ulna, on the little finger side of the arm, and the radius, on the thumb side. Ulnar longitudinal deficiency happens when the ulna and other soft tissues of the hand do not fully develop.
What causes Ulna Longitudinal Deficiency
Most of the time, the cause of ulna longitudinal deficiency is unknown. It may sometimes run in families, particularly as part of an inherited syndrome, like ulnar mammary syndrome and Klippel Feil syndrome. It can also be associated with syndromes that are not inherited, like Cornelia de Lange syndrome.
How is Ulna Longitudinal deficiency treated?
Each child will be unique and will require a discussion with a Children’s Hand Specialist to work out an individualised management plan. Surgery and Non-surgical therapy will aim to rotate the limb into a better position, straighten the wrist if necessary and address the fingers and thumbs in order to achieve at
least 2 digits which can be in a position to grip an object.