Soft tissue contractures from melorheostosis involving the upper extremity.

Melorheostosis is a rare disorder characterized by a linear hyperostosis of cortical bone, joint pain, stiffness, deformity, and limited motion. In the hand, the disease is often disabling because of progressive contractures of the joints and soft tissues involved. Two cases of melorheostosis involving the radial side of the hand and upper extremity are reported. Splinting or surgical release did not result in permanent correction of the soft tissue contractures. Retraining patients to use their unaffected hand should be considered early in the course of the disease.