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Syndactyly is a condition when one or more fingers or toes don't separate during fetal development. When the child is born, they have fused or webbed digits. Either skin or bone connects the child's digits, either fully or partly.
It's one of the most common congenital malformations of the limbs. It occurs in up to 1 out of every 2,000 births and mostly affects the fingers.
In many cases, pediatric hand surgeons can perform corrective surgery to separate the fingers or toes early in a child's life.
There is no single reason why syndactyly occurs.
Sometimes, a parent may pass the condition on to their child. In some cases, webbed fingers or toes are a symptom of a genetic syndrome, such as Apert syndrome.
But for most children, there's no apparent cause.
Symptoms of this condition range from minor to severe.
Fingers or toes may join or fuse together:
In some cases, doctors diagnose syndactyly before birth through an ultrasound. But, most often a diagnosis occurs after a child is born.
Your doctor may x-ray your baby to learn the extent of the fusion. They may also order DNA testing to find out if it's related to a genetic syndrome.
If your child has syndactyly, the doctor will wait until they're 18 to 24 months old before performing corrective surgery. But your child may need surgery sooner, before they fully develop, to prevent joint problems.
It's vital to have the doctor assess your child early to help decide on the best timing for surgery.
The surgeon will do a physical exam and study your child's x-rays to figure out how to best separate the digits.
To schedule an appointment with the Division of Pediatric Plastic Surgery, call 412-692-8650. Online scheduling is also available for both in-person and video visits.
Children's Hospital's main campus is located in the Lawrenceville neighborhood. Our main hospital address is:
UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh One Children’s Hospital Way 4401 Penn Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15224
In addition to the main hospital, Children's has many convenient locations in other neighborhoods throughout the greater Pittsburgh region.
With MyCHP, you can request appointments, review test results, and more.
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Interested in giving to Children's Hospital? Support the hospital by making a donation online, joining our Heroes in Healing monthly donor program, or visiting our site to learn about the other ways you can give back.