Syndactyly

Syndactyly
Syndactyly
Classification and external resources

New born baby hand showing complete complex syndactyly of two fingers.
ICD-10 Q70
ICD-9 755.1
OMIM 185900 186100 186200 186300
DiseasesDB 29330
MedlinePlus 003289
eMedicine orthoped/563
MeSH D013576

Syndactyly (from Greek συν- = "together" plus δακτυλος = "finger") is a condition where two or more digits are fused together. It occurs normally in some mammals, such as the siamang and kangaroo, but is an unusual condition in humans.

Contents

Classification

Syndactyly can be simple or complex.

  • In simple syndactyly, adjacent fingers or toes are joined by soft tissue.
  • In complex syndactyly, the bones of adjacent digits are fused. The kangaroo exhibits complex syndactyly.
Type 1 Syndactyly in adult female

Syndactyly can be complete or incomplete.

  • In complete syndactyly, the skin is joined all the way to the tip of the finger
  • In incomplete syndactyly, the skin is only joined part of the distance to the fingertip.

Complex syndactyly occurs as part of a syndrome (such as Apert syndrome) and typically involves more digits and with complex syndactyly.

The hand of a patient with Greig cephalopolysyndactyly with syndactyly of several digits.

Fenestrated syndactyly means the skin is joined for most of the digit but in a proximal area there is gap in the syndactyly with normal skin. This type of syndactyly is found in amniotic band syndrome.

Simple syndactyly can be full or partial, and is present at birth (congenital). In early human fetal development, webbing (syndactyly) of the toes and fingers is normal. At about 16 weeks of gestation, apoptosis takes place and an enzyme dissolves the tissue between the fingers and toes, and the webbing disappears. In some fetuses, this process does not occur completely between all fingers or toes and some residual webbing remains.

Genetics

Five types[1] of syndactyly have been identified in humans. The corresponding loci associated with these types and their common phenotypical expression are as follows:

  • type I: 2q34-q36;[2] webbing occurs between middle and ring fingers and/or second and third toes.
  • type II: 2q31;[3] also involves long and ring fingers, but has a sixth finger merged in between.
  • type III: 6q21-q23; small finger is merged into the ring finger.
  • type IV: 7q36;[4] involves all fingers and/or toes
  • type V: 2q31-q32; similar to type I, but the metacarpals and metatarsals may also be fused.

Treatment

4 year old boy's right hand, after surgery to rectify complete complex syndactyly of middle and ring finger. Bone had been joined at tips of fingers, together with fingernails, prior to corrective procedure. Surgery was conducted at 9 months of age. Note webbing "creep", and scar tissue, for which corrective surgery is due when boy is approximately 6 years of age.

Timing

Syndactyly of the border digits (thumb/ index finger or ring/ small fingers) is treated at early age to prevent the larger digit from curving towards the smaller digit with growth. Typically, syndactyly of these digits is treated at 6 months of age. The treatment of syndactyly of the other digits is elective and is more commonly performed when the digits have grown, at 18– 24 months of age.

Techniques

Because the circumference of the conjoined fingers is smaller than the circumference of the 2 separated fingers, there is not enough skin to cover both digits once they are separated at the time of surgery. Therefore, the surgeon must bring new skin into the area at the time of surgery. This is most commonly done with a skin graft (from groin or anterior elbow). Skin can also be used from the back of the hand by mobilizing it (called a "graftless" syndactyly correction) which requires planning over a period of months prior to surgery.

Complications

The most common problem with syndactyly correction is creeping of the skin towards the fingertip over time. This is likely due to tension at the site of the repair between the digits. Additional surgery may be required to correct this. One critique of using skin grafts is that the grafts darken in the years after surgery and become more noticeable. Also, if the skin grafts are harvested from the groin area, the skin may grow hair. Finally, the fingers may deviate after surgery. This is most commonly seen in complex syndactyly (when there has been a bony joining of the fingers).

See also

  • Dactyly, the arrangement of fingers and toes in different kinds of animals

References


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Syndactyly — A condition in which two or more of the fingers or toes are joined together. This joining can involve the bones or just the skin between the digits. Joining of the bones is called bony syndactyly. Webbing of the skin between the fingers without… …   Medical dictionary

  • syndactyly — noun a) The normal condition, in some animals and birds, of having fused digits. Pranamya Menaria (India; born August 10, 2005) has 25 in total (12 fingers and 13 toes). This is as a result of the condition Polydactyly and Syndactyly. b) The… …   Wiktionary

  • Syndactyly, partial — A condition in which fingers or toes are partially joined together. Syndactyly can involve the bones or just the skin. With partial syndactyly, the connection extends from the base only part way up the involved digits. Partial syndactyly is the… …   Medical dictionary

  • Syndactyly, complete — A condition in which fingers or toes are completely joined together, with the connection extending from the base to the tip of the involved digits. Complete syndactyly is the opposite of partial syndactyly, in which the connection extends only… …   Medical dictionary

  • Syndactyly, Poland — A unique pattern of one sided malformations characterized by a defect of the chest (pectoralis) muscle on one side of the body and webbing of the fingers (cutaneous syndactyly) of the ipsilateral hand (the hand on the same side). Often called… …   Medical dictionary

  • Syndactyly, bony — A condition in which the bones of fingers or toes are joined together. Bony syndactyly is the opposite of cutaneous syndactyly, in which the bones are normal but skin between the digits is webbed …   Medical dictionary

  • Syndactyly, cutaneous — A condition in which fingers or toes are joined together, and the joining involves only the skin, not the bones. Cutaneous syndactyly is the opposite of bony syndactyly, in which the bones are of the digits are joined …   Medical dictionary

  • syndactyly — noun Etymology: New Latin syndactylia, from syn + Greek daktylos finger Date: 1864 a union of two or more digits that is normal in some animals (as various marsupials) and occurs as a human hereditary disorder marked by webbing of two or more… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • syndactyly — syn·dac·ty·ly (sĭn dăkʹtə lē) or syn·dac·tyl·ism ( tə lĭz əm) n. Biology 1. The condition of having two or more fused digits, as occurs normally in certain mammals and birds. 2. A congenital anomaly in humans characterized by two or more fused… …   Universalium

  • syndactyly — n. state of having webbed fingers or toes, state of having digits that are partially joined together (of certain mammals or birds) …   English contemporary dictionary

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