Madelung's deformity

How will my child’s Madelung’s deformity be treated?

Many children with Madelung's deformity have no pain or limitations in activities their daily lives.

In these situations, no treatment is necessary. Your child’s doctor will probably recommend that you bring your child in periodically so that the progression, if any, of the deformity can be monitored.

Surgery

If your child has pain, functional limitations or progressive deformity, his doctor may recommend surgical treatment.

In general, the goals of surgical treatment are to reposition and stabilize your child’s wrist to allow him to move it without pain and to prevent the deformity from worsening.

The type of surgery is dependent upon your child’s age, degree of deformity, functional limitations and general health.

Treatment options

• Physiolysis — releasing the soft-tissue or bony tethers on the radius
• Corrective osteotomy — cutting and realigning the end of the radius
• Ulnar shortening osteotomy
• Darrach procedure — removing the prominent end of the ulna

We also may recommend an examination called a wrist arthroscopy to evaluate and treat any cartilage injury within the wrist joint.