Abstract

Ulnar longitudinal deficiency (ULD) is an infrequent congenital anomaly found in approximately 1 in 100,000 live births. In an incidental discovery, a 57-year-old healthy man, referred to our Orthopedic Center due to a right medial malleolus fracture, was diagnosed with ULD. A comprehensive physical examination revealed notable abnormalities in the patient’s right upper extremity, marked by significant shortening, pronation, and internal rotation. Radiological examinations exposed a complex skeletal deformity, including radiohumeral synostosis, the complete absence of the ulna and carpal bones, along a shortened and bowed radius. Remarkably, only the thumb and the first metacarpal bone were present in the hand, accompanied by a distinctive ulnar deviation of the wrist by Cole and Manske’s classification (type D) and Goldfarb’s classification (type V), the patient’s condition was identified through a thorough clinical assessment. This detailed characterization advances our understanding of the specific anatomical features and classifications associated with ULD, offering valuable insights for clinical management and potential interventions in similar cases.

Keywords

ulnar longitudinal deficiency, radial longitudinal deficiency, congenital anomalies