Finger Surgery

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Webbed Fingers (Syndactyly)

Webbed fingers, or syndactyly, is one of the most common congenital hand abnormalities, occurring in one out of every 2,000 to 3,000 live births. It is also relatively easy to correct in most cases, and in many cases requires no treatment at all.

At Hayes Hand Center, experienced hand surgeons can consult with you about the best treatment for syndactyly and help you decide what course to take.

Symptoms of syndactyly

Webbed fingers are usually obvious at birth, and are diagnosed shortly afterward during an initial examination of the infant. Webbing occurs most often between the ring and middle fingers, but can also occur between the other fingers. Most rare is webbing between the thumb and first finger.

Types of syndactyly are:

• Incomplete—involving only part of the fingers
• Complete—the fingers are attached all the way out to the tips
• Simple—no bone structures are involved
• Complex—bone structures are fused as well as soft tissue

These different types can occur simultaneously. For example, incomplete simple syndactyly could be webbing that only extends to the first knuckle and only involves soft tissue. Complex complete syndactyly involves fusion of the finger bones from the base to the tips of the fingers.

What causes webbed fingers?

When the hands develop in the womb, the hand begins as a paddle-like structure which later splits into individual fingers. When one or more fingers fail to separate properly, syndactyly results. In some cases, the separation process malfunctions severely, leaving a club-like hand with twisted, fused bones and little or no indication of separate fingers.

Webbed fingers occur due to a genetic anomaly. This can be a congenital defect that runs in families, or it can occur without a previous family history. During your consultation, you will be probably be asked about any existing history of syndactyly in your family.

To determine the best course of treatment for syndactyly, please contact our Chattanooga hand specialist at the Hayes Hand Center to schedule a Tennessee Finger Surgery consultation. Hayes Hand Center offers comprehensive hand surgery, treatment and therapy in the Chattanooga, Tennessee area.