Thumb hypoplasia gives rise to various derangement of hand functions, leading to various degrees of malformation. The treatment of choice for grade IV or V congenital hypoplasia of the thumb, classified by Buck-Gramcko's criteria, is the pollicization of the index finger. The purpose of this article is to review the clinical usefulness of pollicization for more than grade IV hypoplasia.

Three grade IV and 3 grade V hypoplastic thumbs in 6 patients, one with radial club hand, were reviewed retrospectively. They underwent pollicization between 1987 and 1997. The index metacarpi were osteotomized for shortening and readjusted by pronation. To evaluate postoperative function, authors used the criteria of Sundararaj and Mani.

Except for the exclusion of one patient, four had excellent and one had good functional statuses.

Pollicization was considered to be worthwhile for functional improvement of the hands in more than grade IV congenital hypoplasia of the thumb.