AU - Nazerani, Shahram AU - Kalantar Motamedi, Mohammad Hossein AU - Keramati, Mohammad Reza AU - Paydar, Mohammad Ali AU - Nazerani, Tara AU - Koohnavard, Marjan TI - Treatment of upper limb deformities using soft tissue distraction: an introduction to pentagonal frame PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE TA - RJMS JN - RJMS VO - 18 VI - 85 IP - 85 4099 - http://rjms.iums.ac.ir/article-1-1645-en.html 4100 - http://rjms.iums.ac.ir/article-1-1645-en.pdf SO - RJMS 85 AB  -   Background : Soft tissue distraction is an increasingly accepted treatment method in hand surgery which can be applied as a method of contracture release from elbow to proximal phalangeal joints. Common methods have been shown that contracture release alone is not enough and leads to recurrence after a while. Currently, joint and soft tissue distraction and holding them in a proper position in which physiotherapy can be done is the most accepted method. Herein we present a technique named “pentagonal frame” for soft tissue distraction which can help us in reaching the desired outcome. As a result of novelty of this technique and lack of enough data regarding its outcome, we would like to report its treatment results in this article.   Methods: In this case series study, we report 33 patients that presented with soft tissue contracture in their hands. In this method, a thin 1-1.5 mm Kirschner wire was passed horizontally at the proximal head of the distal phalanx and bent like a frame around the finger, forming a pentagonal shape for anchorage and allowing limb traction without damage to pulp and soft tissues. Two forms of traction were performed: static (with a wire exerting pressure) or dynamic (using a rubber band to adjust the tension). The wire or rubber band may be temporarily freed to commence active and passive physiotherapy. We maintained the frame for 3-6 weeks which played the role of night splint within final weeks. SPSS V.16 was used for data analysis.   Results : In this study, 33 patients (23 male, 10 female) with a mean age of 20.91 years (SD=13.05) were evaluated. The patients underwent surgery for a mean of 3 times. After the surgery and removing the frame, patients were followed up every 6 months for a maximum of 5 years. The difference between flexion contracture in PIP, before and after the surgery was statistically significant (65.15 ± 37.44 vs. 7 ± 4.74, p CP - IRAN IN - LG - eng PB - RJMS PG - 34 PT - Research YR - 2011