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This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Similarly, patients with complex syndactyly with bony fusion have risk for abnormal finger growth, thus your surgeon may recommend treatment prior to one year of age. However, simple syndactyly involving the thumb and index finger, or ring and small finger, may impact the direction of the finger growth given the difference between the finger lengths, thus surgery is frequently performed prior to one year of age. Simple syndactyly of the index and middle fingers or middle and ring fingers is usually treated prior to two years of age. Timing of the treatment surgery depends on the complexity of the syndactyly. A skin graft is when skin is taken from another part of the body (typically a part of the body with extra skin), and used to fill the space needed in another part of the body.
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Because there is a lack of skin on the sides of each finger after being separated, skin grafts are frequently required to fill any defects.
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To address the webbing or fusion between the fingers, surgery is needed. The goals in treating syndactyly are to ideally separate the fingers to maximize function of the hand. Treatment of syndactyly is dependent on the severity of the syndactyly, other medical issues, desires of the family, and functional concerns. This process of interdigital apoptosis, or regression of the webbing, is why we have webspaces between fingers and toes. When there is failure of the regression between the fingers or toes, the remnant webbing site is termed syndactyly. Around the sixth week of fetal development, the body gives a signal through specific signaling proteins (one important one is called sonic hedgehog) to cause regression of these webs between the fingers and toes, and this process is termed interdigital apoptosis. The hands and feet have a similar appearance to the webbing of the foot of a duck. Normal fetal upper limb development includes the formation of webs between fingers and toes. The upper limb develops early in fetal development. In 15-40% of patients there is a family history.įigures above: Child with simple complete syndactyly between the middle and ring fingers of the left hand. Syndactyly can occur sporadically or be inherited and occurs in 1 out of 2,000 births. Apert syndrome and Poland syndrome are two examples of syndromes with syndactyly association. Complex syndactyly with bony fusion more commonly occurs with with a syndrome. Syndactyly can occur as part of a syndrome. When fingers are fused all the way to the fingertips, this is termed complete, whereas fusion that occurs only partway across the webspace is termed incomplete.
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When adjacent finger bones are fused as well as the soft tissue, this is termed complex syndactyly. Most commonly, the fused fingers or toes are joined by soft tissue, this is termed simple syndactyly. Syndactyly is the most common congenital malformation of the limbs. It can occur in one hand or foot, or all four. This can occur in the hands or the feet or both. Syndactyly is a condition in which a child is born with two fused fingers or toes. Hand surgeon Reena Anjalie Bhatt, MD answers your questions about webbed fingers, also known as syndactyly.
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