syndactyly - syn?dac?ty?ly - n. Biology
The condition of having two or more fused digits, as occurs normally in
certain mammals and birds.
A congenital anomaly in humans characterized by two or more fused fingers
or toes.
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Syndactyly is the term for joined fingers or toes. This abnormality is one of the more common congenital deformities, occurring in approximately 1in 2000 births. It can occur in hands and/or feet. It is a little commoner in boys. In about one third of cases, there is another member of the family with the same condition. Most are “simple” but some are part of more complex deformities of the hand.
When surgery is required, it is many peoples preference to correct most problems soon after the age of 6 months. This is both to spare children from teasing and to allow for best function of the hands. Factors involved in the timing of surgery are (i) The children must be big enough for the anaesthetic to be as safe as possible. (ii) Early correction allows for normal development of hand function. (iii) It prevents the development of permanent deformities due to the effects of growth. (iv) The children are still young enough not to remember the operation.