Congenital Hand Deformities

A congenital hand deformity is a change or difference in the way your baby's hand(s) form. Most congenital hand differences are not avoidable and cannot be discovered before birth. There are multiple types of variants and numerous treatment options available. A congenital hand difference, also known as a congenital hand deformity, is a discrepancy in the normal formation of your child's hand.

Differences in your child's physical appearance, such as hand differences, are visible at birth and can be worrisome.

Most hand differences are not inherited (meaning they do not run in families). They are not avoidable, and many cannot be identified before birth.

Types of congenital hand deformities.

Congenital hand differences can be classified according to the type of deformity. General categories include issues with:

Arm and hand formation.
Hand parts cannot be separated.
Extra fingers or thumbs.
Overgrowth or undergrowth of the hand, fingers, or thumb.

Problems with part formation.

This happens when certain portions of the body stop developing while the infant is in the womb. This results in either the entire lack of a bodily component, such as the hand, or a missing structure, such as a segment of one of the arm bones. Surgery is not performed when a complete portion is lacking. Instead, these children may receive a prosthetic device early in their development.

Examples of these classifications include :

Radial Clubhand A radial clubhand is a condition that affects all tissues on the thumb side (radial side) of the forearm and hand. The bone may shorten, resulting in a tiny thumb or the loss of the thumb. Wrist deformities are often treated around the age of six months.
Ulnar clubhand The ulnar clubhand is less prevalent than the radial clubhand. This variation could be due to the underdevelopment of the ulnar bone (the bone in the forearm on the side of the tiny finger) or its entire absence.
Hand parts fail to separate This form of hand deformity occurs when the hand's bones or tissues fail to separate in the pregnancy. The most common form of this categorization is syndactyly.
Syndactyly occurs when two or more fingers are fused. This difference is more likely to occur in families. It is considered complete when all of the fingers have fused. There are two types of syndactyly.
Simple syndactyly This includes the union of only the soft tissues of the fingers.
Complex syndactyly This involves the fusing of the bones and fingernails.

How prevalent are congenital hand differences?

Approximately 2 out of every 1,000 newborns will have a congenital hand difference. The disease affects more male babies (AMAB) than female babies (AFAB).

Diagnoses and Tests

Congenital hand abnormalities are typically recognized at birth. However, your child's healthcare practitioner may request X-rays. X-rays can assist evaluate the degree of bone and tissue involvement. Your child's provider will be able to determine whether the hand deformity is simple or complex.

Treatment

Each child with a hand difference is unique.. The approach to treatment is tailored to your child's specific needs. The primary goal and benefit of treatment is to increase your child's capacity to function despite the hand discrepancy. Another goal is to improve the appearance of their hand and boost your child's self-confidence.

What are some common treatment options for hand deformities?

Options for treating hand differences includes:

Stretching
Splinting or casting
Physical therapy (to improve strength and function)
Prosthetics are used to replace missing components or bones
Surgery

Syndactyly is usually treated by surgically separating the fingers. Skin grafts are frequently required because additional skin is needed to cover the two fingers. A provider may also recommend casting or splinting, as well as physical therapy, in more difficult instances. These therapy choices will help your child's hand function after surgery.

Polydactyly is treated surgically by removing the additional finger or thumb and reconstructing the remaining finger or thumb.

The treatment for radial club hand is determined by your child's functional abilities and demands. Treatment options may include limb manipulation and stretching, splinting or casting, and/or surgery.

Keep in mind that treatment will not "cure" your child's hand discrepancy. However, it can help to improve the function and appearance of your child's hands. A good attitude and acceptance of the deformity, both on your part and your child are critical to treatment success and healthy growth.

Case Study By

Dr Nishant Soni

(MBBS, MS-Ortho)

Experience

Hand & Reconstructive Micro Surgeon with 13 yrs as specialist

Work in Stats till 2023

5000+ Carpal Tunnel Surgery
10010+ Hand Fractures
3000+ Wrist Surgeries
40000+ Happy Patients

Associations

Medanta MedCity
SCI International Hospital
Medanta MedCity
SCI International Hospital