Is your baby's fingers fused together? Let's learn about this 'webbed' (Syndactyly)

The first thing a mother or father does when they look at a newborn baby is to count the fingers and toes on their little hands and feet. But imagine if you saw two or more of those little fingers stuck together, as if connected by a membrane of skin? As a mother, you might be a little worried. But don't worry, today we are talking about this situation that many mothers may have experienced.

What is syndactyly?

Simply put, this condition is called syndactyly in medical terms. This is when two or more fingers or toes of a baby's hand or foot are connected by skin, much like the webbing between the toes of a duck. Sometimes this connection is limited to the skin. Other times, the underlying bones (spinals) and other soft tissues may also be connected.

This is a birth defect that can be detected at birth. In some cases, it can even be detected during prenatal ultrasound screenings while the baby is still in the womb.

Why does this happen to babies? What is the reason?

To understand this, we need to know a little about how a baby develops in the womb. When a baby is conceived and develops in the womb, its hands and feet are initially shaped like flipper-like paddles. The fingers are not separated.

By about 10 weeks of pregnancy, these fingers usually separate, elongate, and lose the webbed structure between them. Syndactyly occurs when, for some reason, these fingers do not separate properly at that time.

Most of the time, it occurs as an isolated birth defect , without any other major medical condition. But sometimes it can have a genetic influence. This means that if someone in the family, for example you, your spouse, or your parents, has had the condition, there is a chance that your baby will also have it. Studies have shown that between 10% and 40% of people with syndactyly have a family history .

Very rarely, this finger-jointing can be a feature of other larger genetic syndromes. For example, this condition is seen with Apert, Chotzen, and Poland syndromes. But these are very rare.

Are there different types of this condition called Syndactyly?

Yes, it doesn't affect every baby the same. It can be divided into several types depending on the severity of the condition and the tissues affected. Let's see what the main types are.

In addition, it is divided into several other types depending on which fingers are connected together.

• Type 1: This is the most common type. It usually affects the third and fourth fingers or the second and third toes. It can often be seen on both hands or both feet.
• Type 2: This affects the third and fourth fingers and the fifth toe. Some children with this type may also have extra fingers.
• Type 3: This affects only the hands. The fourth and fifth fingers are usually involved.

There are other types of this. Your doctor will examine your baby physically, do X-rays, and if necessary, do genetic testing to determine exactly which type it is and how severe it is.

What are the treatments for this?

The first question that comes to mind when you hear this is, "What do I do now? Do I need to have surgery for this?"

• No treatment needed: If the toe joint is very small, meaning it is a mild condition that does not affect the baby's growth or use of the hand, treatment may not be necessary. Especially since the toe joint usually does not affect walking or the child's activities, it can often be left untreated.
• Surgery: As with all other types, the treatment is surgical separation of the fingers. This surgery is usually performed when the baby is between 1 and 2 years old . This is because the risk of anesthesia is lower at that age. Also, the sooner the fingers are separated, the more likely the baby's hand will function and develop normally.

How the surgery is performed

During the surgery, the doctor carefully cuts the skin between the fused toes in a "zig-zag" pattern. This is done to minimize scarring and to prevent the toes from coming back together later. Sometimes, if there is not enough skin after separating the toes, a small piece of skin is taken from another part of the baby's body, such as the wrist or elbow, and is used as a skin graft .

After surgery, your baby's hand will be in a cast for a few weeks. Later, you may need to use rubber spacers to keep the fingers from coming back together. You will need to see your doctor regularly to check on your baby's progress and ask questions. Some children may need physical therapy to improve the movement of their hands and fingers.