Polydactyly, Syndactyly, Symbrachydactyly and Other Congenital Hand Conditions

Most congenital hand differences are evident at birth and are diagnosed with a physical exam and X-rays. In most cases, the cause is unknown. The most common types of congenital hand conditions include the following: 

• Polydactyly refers to one or more extra fingers or thumbs that may be abnormally shaped. 
• Syndactyly refers to webbed or fused fingers or toes. These can impede finger growth and dexterity. 
• Symbrachydactyly refers to missing fingers or thumbs or abnormally short digits.
• Radial dysplasia or club hand. This results from an underdeveloped radius bone in the forearm and often affects the thumb as well.  This may be very subtle or one of the bones in the forearm or thumb may be missing.

 Trigger Thumb 
A trigger thumb refers to a thumb that can't straighten or that pops when bending and straightening.  While it is not a congenital condition, it typically occurs shortly after birth or as your child grows.

We understand that a congenital hand condition can affect not just your child’s physical growth and development but also their mental well-being. We develop a personalized treatment plan for your child that takes these factors into account, and we work as a team to make the treatment process as smooth as possible for your whole family.  Your child's care team may also include pediatric orthopaedic surgeons, plastic surgeons, pediatricians, anesthesiologists, neurologists, physical therapists, and many others.