Morphological Differences And Clinical Significance Between The X-ray Plain Films In Antero-posterior And In Oblique Views Of The Duplicated Thumbs

Objective: To explore the different performances of the duplicated thumbs between their X-ray plain films in anteroposterior and in oblique views and to analyze the guiding significance for surgery.Methods: Choose 391 duplicated thumbs including all wassel types and compare the each wassel type's differences between their X-ray plain films in anteroposterior and in oblique views,then to confirm the differences during the operation and processed accordingly.Results: In 37 cases of wassel I/II,56 cases of wassel III/IV,22 cases of wassel V/VI,15 cases of wassel VII,the osteoarticular shapes and the axial direction of the duplicated thumbs show differently in the anteroposterior and the oblique X-ray plain films.The difference was statistically significant.Intraoperative measurement and exploration were consistent with the most actual osteoarticular conditions on anteroposterior X-ray film,except some of the cases of Wassel V/VI type of metacarpal neck flexion was consistent with the performance on oblique X-ray film.Conclusions: The osteoarticular performances and the alignment of duplicated thumbs in their anteroposterior and oblique views could be different.The anteroposterior X-ray plain film reflects preferably the osteoarticular malformation on the ulnar or radial side of duplicated thumbs,the oblique X-ray plain film could reflect the condition of bending and stretch states of joints.The standard anteroposterior and oblique X-ray plain film of the duplicated thumbs can guide the surgical procedure correctly.