Malunions of the Hand and Wrist

Malunions of the hand and wrist can result in complicated deformities with subsequent functional difficulties. The complexity of the hand and the requirement for such large arcs of motion for normal function can complicate the evaluation and treatment of these problems. Ultimately each bone malunion is evaluated with an eye toward improving overall pain and function as well as decreasing the likelihood of late complications such as tendon rupture and arthritis. In this chapter, we address several of these unique scenarios as well as the techniques and challenges in treating these complicated problems. Phalanx, metacarpal, carpal, and distal radius malunions are all addressed.