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Syndactyly is a condition involving a specific deformation of the fingers – their fusion with each other. For this reason, it is colloquially referred to as a digital hyperplasia, or simply adhesions of the fingers. It is a congenital, in some cases hereditary, genetic defect. What is worth knowing about this condition? What is his treatment like?
Syndactyly – what is it?
Syndactylia it is rare, on average in one in approximately 2500 to 3000 births. It is most common in men with white skin. The high risk of this mutation also applies to children suffering from Down syndrome or other genetic diseases. The most common case criticized there is an adhesion of the fingers of the middle and ring hands. Less often syndactylia it also applies to other or more fingers. That is why a distinction is made syndication single – when two fingers are joined, and syndication plural – when more of them are joined. Moreover, syndactylia it can be total – when the fingers are fused along their entire length, or partial – when only some of the fingers are joined together. Syndactylia it can affect both the fingers and toes. A specific example criticized jest syndactylia complex. It occurs when the fingers are connected not only by a membrane or a fold of skin, but also by bone tissue.
Syndactylia develops during fetal life, between 6 and 8 weeks after conception. For this reason, it is possible to detect it even in the period of prenatal life. For example, it can be noticed when performing an ordinary ultrasound scan. A significant proportion of cases of this ailment is also diagnosed in this way.
Is the Jacqueline treatment recommended?
The primary treatment criticized is to perform a surgical separation of the fingers. Such a procedure is usually performed at the age of 2 to 5 years. The timing of surgery depends on the individual nature of the disease and the parents’ decision. If the fingers are fused in different places, then – due to the possibility of deformation of the fingers during the growth of the organism – the procedure of their separation is performed relatively early, e.g. during the first year of life. Thanks to this, both the ability to properly move the fingers and the possibility of their correct development in the future are restored. This is of great importance not only for aesthetic reasons, but also due to the rapidly progressing motor and manual development of children at this age.
The finger separation procedure involves the artificial creation of a commissure between the fused fingers. The commissure should be of adequate width and length and allow for a natural way of moving the fingers. Two methods are used for this purpose. The first is called the Zeller method and consists in constructing two leather triangles and then sewing them together in a suitable way. This method is to ensure adequate and natural blood supply to the skin and to create a commissure of the right width and convenient to use. Unfortunately, its downside is the possibility of creating a second contracture, as a result of a scar created after sewing two skin triangles together. The second method is called the Barsky method. During it, a skin flap of a specific shape is also produced. In this case, it is only one rectangular lobe, located in one of the two versions: dorsal or palmar. The binder formed in this way is not covered with scars that could cause secondary contracture. Despite this metoda Barsky’ego it is also associated with certain risks. There is a possibility that tissue necrosis will occur, which may develop if the prepared skin flap is insufficiently supplied with blood.
What is worth asking a doctor about?
If our child has a confirmed syndicationseveral detailed medical consultations await us. The first step will be a referral to a pediatrician who will help describe the case criticized our consolation. He will also refer us to a specialist – a pediatric surgeon who will help us decide on the further treatment of the child. First of all, it will be important to choose when to carry out the finger separation operation and how to perform it. There is no other way to remedy this defect.
When you see your doctor for the first time, it’s important to pay attention to the details you see on the X-ray. Knowing the details of the defect your child is suffering from can help in providing the assistance they need as they continue to develop. You should also ask about the details of the proposed procedure – choice of method, possible complications, reimbursement of the operation. It is also worth asking the doctor to assess the possibility of the fingers returning to manual dexterity. Recovery depends on individual features, such as the arrangement of bones in deformed fingers. The details of the planned recovery – its duration and recommended exercises – are also worth asking.