Symbrachydactyly means short and webbed fingers but the term really includes a wide range of presentations. I have previously posted on symbrachydactyly a number of times and this Post summarizes the 7 different types of hand appearance. I have also written that I prefer certain techniques to lengthen the fingers such as bone lengthening or web space deepening- read Here and Here . However, I do believe that using toes to lengthen fingers might make sense in certain very specific situations. Consider this child:
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| Symbrachydactyly with excellent thumb. |
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| Symbrachydactyly with excellent thumb. |
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| Radiographs of same child with symbrachydactyly showing the great thumb and limited other digits. |
This patient has symbrachydactyly although it shares some similarities to hypodactyly, as defined by Ezaki, et al article. This patient has a great thumb but limited finger development. The hand and metacarpal bones are well developed but there simply is very little development of the fingers (phalanges). And, importantly for this discussion, there are excellent soft tissue pouches that can be used for reconstruction.
In order to provide a strong pinch, we elected to reconstruct the index finger which was the most developed finger. It had a small remnant of the proximal phalanx and a small fingernail (with some of the distal phalanx beneath it. To me, this seems like the ideal candidate for a nonvascularized toe to hand transfer. While there can be problems with the feet, typically patients do well. And the index finger has immediate length and stability and, we all hope, will grow (as long as the growth plates of the transferred bone remain open).
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| Symbrachydactyly after free toe phalanx transfer. |
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| Palmar view after surgery for free toe transfer in symbrachydactyly. |
Charles A. Goldfarb, MD
My Bio at Washington University
congenitalhand@wudosis.wustl.edu
hi docotor
my name yogananda from bangalore.
our baby has born on 21-08-2019
in both hand have short finger,
Left hand center three finger has short and right side hand thumbing finger is good and 4finger are very short , and aslo 2 finer with joint. pls help me out my phone number +919844755177
Hello Yogananda.
Congratulations on your baby! It might be best to email me. Include pictures and x-rays if you have them. congenitalhand@wustl.edu
Hi doctor, my baby has also same condition as above image. Right hand is normal. But left Hand thumb is good other 4 fingers are nubs not Fully developed born on 26th October 2019. Please suggest me any treatment .
Hello. You need to be seen and evaluated by a hand surgeon with expertise in evaluating and treating this condition. Typically this is a 'congenital hand surgeon'. You can email me if you want to provide me more information and I may be able to guide you. congenitalhand@wustl.edu
Good luck.
Hello,Sir my nephew is born in Pakistan
2 days ago he has his right hand normal but left hand has only a thumb and index finger other 3 fingers are missing.So is there any cure for that if you would like i can send you his hand's pics via email.Thanks
Hello. There is "cure" for conditions such as this. I am happy to give thoughts on a likely diagnosis if you send pictures to congenitalhand@wustl.edu. There may be surgery that can help.