Radiological imaging of XXXX -a 6-year single-centre experience and what the hand surgeons want to know.

@entity1 @entity154
OBJECTIVE: @entity154 present a rare but important physical and emotional challenge for @entity1 and parents. Radiological imaging is important for accurate diagnosis, to aid decision making and to monitor changes in the growing hand. The goal of any treatment is to help the @entity1 achieve his/her maximum potential, to provide a useful hand with attention to cosmesis. We investigated the range of @entity154 imaged in a tertiary referral centre. We examined the timing of imaging and the key clinical questions. METHODS: The radiology imaging system was searched retrospectively for radiographs of @entity154 over a 6-year period. The images were reviewed and @entity1 demographics, diagnosis and other imaging recorded. RESULTS: Over 6  years, 85 @entity1 had imaging. Twenty-three @entity1 had bilateral problems and 11 had recognised syndromes. The most common abnormalities imaged were duplicated thumbs (28  %), followed by syndactyly (18  %). @entity1 were first imaged as early as 1  day old, with the median age of initial imaging 12  months. CONCLUSIONS: Thumb duplication and syndactyly are the most common conditions for which radiographs are requested at our hospital, although overall syndactyly is considered the most common @entity154 . For a variety of reasons, @entity1 are often imaged very early, before review by the Specialist in @entity1 's Hand Surgery (despite surgery being unlikely before 1  year of age.) We discuss the classification systems and specific issues that hand surgeons want to know from the radiologists.
