Ray transposition for central digital loss.

In fourteen cases transposition of either the second or fifth ray was used following traumatic amputation of one or both central digits, or in conjunction with surgical removal of either the middle or ring finger when it was rendered useless by trauma, involved with a malignancy, or congenitally hypoplastic. The operative technique consisted of osteotomies at the base of the metacarpals with internal fixation of the transposed ray. When the fifth ray was transposed, the level of division of the bone was such as to provide the appearance of a more normal length of the digit.