Does Preservation of Metacarpophalangeal Joint Vascularity Protect Against Physeal Arrest in Index Finger Pollicization?

Purpose: To determine whether preservation of blood supply to the index metacarpophalangeal joint decreases the rate of physeal arrest.

Methods: A retrospective review of 41 pollicized digits in 35 patients with 2-year minimum radiographic follow-up was conducted at a single institution. Other complications evaluated included nonunion at the pollicized digit base and clinical instability at the new carpometacarpal joint.