Thiemann's finger or toe disease: follow-up of seven cases

Thiemann's disease is a non-inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology, affecting the epiphyses of the phalanges of the fingers and the first toe in children. We have re-examined seven patients after up to 18 years. Two patients had had pain in the affected digits for several years. In four patients radiographs after closure of the growth plates showed normal phalangeal dimensions without arthrosis. We conclude that different degrees of severity of epiphyseal disturbance consistent with the type described by Thiemann may be encountered. It is possible that trauma may worsen the prognosis by deformation of a susceptible epiphysis.