Objectives: Patients with the Poland sequence refer to the clinic with complaints of syndactyly or brachydactyly; however, the physicians interest head just towards the fingers. Thus, pectoral muscle agenesis usually go unnoticed. In this study, it is planned to research retrospectively the prevalence of the Poland sequence among the patients who had been operated at our clinic for symbrachydactyly.
Methods: One hundred four patients who had been operated between the years 2003 and 2011 for syndactyly and symbrachydactyly at our clinic were investigated retrospectively. The parents of the patients diagnosed with the Poland sequence were interviewed, and they were asked if they were aware of the deformity at the thorax.
Results: During the physical examination of 10 of 104 (9.6%) patients operated for symbrachydactyly, either pectoralis major muscle agenesis or hypoplasia was found. The families of two patients were aware of this situation since the birth of the patient; whereas, three families were informed by the doctors about the condition during the operation for symbrachydactyly. The remaining five families did not have any information.
Conclusion: As a result of this study, it is found that the prevalence of the Poland sequence among the population can be more than it is guessed. It is more scientific to make an overall systemic evaluation in patients with hand deformities, rather than just focusing on their hands, in order not to miss any situations such as the Poland sequence.
Key words: Poland sequence, symbrachydactyly, pectoral agenesis
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