Some people are born with hands and fingers that look different from everyone else’s. These differences are called congenital defects or deformities. These disorders are present right from birth and they can, thankfully, be corrected through surgery. With time, patience and exercise, the patient can gain complete and proper movement in his/her hands and fingers and be capable of leading a quality life.
Congenital Disorders can affect your life
Experience, empathy, professionalism
Dr. Leonard Gordon, MD and Dr. Joshua Gordon, MD are celebrated orthopedic surgeons based out of San Francisco, California. They have immense experience working on cases of congenital disorders. Their empathetic nature, combined with their professionalism and cheerful demeanor, makes them a favorite with patients of all ages. They can surgically correct the congenital deformity and restore your loved one’s hand to normal. Visit the Hand and Microsurgery Medical Group for a consult.
7 Types of Congenital Hand Defects
The below congenital disorders are the most commonly seen and treated. Doctors Joshua and Leonard Gordon are experts in treating all types of congenital disorders.
Club Hand
Here, the baby’s hands turns inwards at the wrist, resulting in a deviation in the direction the hand and the wrist face. The forearm is also very short, because of the angle at which the wrist faces.
Webbed Fingers
This disorder occurs when excessive tissue or bone grows between the fingers and connects the fingers to each other. The excess tissue/bone makes the baby’s hands appear webbed.
Hypoplasia or Aplasia
In this condition, the hand fails to either completely or partially form. A complete or partial reconstruction of the hand and the fingers may be necessary in this case. Prosthetics are also a treatment option.
Camptodactyly
This hand disorder results in the babies’ fingers being completely or partially bent. The condition is permanent and surgery is needed to restore the fingers to their normal length and shape.
Pediatric Trigger Finger
It can be quite unnerving to find out your newborn has a birth defect. However, it isn't something that you need to worry about, Hand & Microsurgery Group is here to help with expert care.
Similar to Camptodactyly, trigger finger is a congenital defect which results in one or more of the fingers to snap and bend for hours or days and then suddenly snap straight back-up. This occurs due to a congenital inflammation in the tendons in the finger. In a very severe condition, the bending of the finger may be permanent.
Overgrowth and Undergrowth
Overgrowths occur when the baby’s hand or finger tissues overgrow uncontrollably or if the bone grows to a massive size. Here, the affected finger(s) are abnormally larger than the others. Similarly, undergrowths occur when the bones in the baby’s hands and fingers are extremely short and thin, making the fingers/hands much smaller than the rest of the body.
Constriction Ring Syndrome
This congenital defect occurs when bands of fibrous tissue in the amniotic sac wrap around the fetus’s fingers and hands, causing a thick layer of tissue to grow on and underneath the fetus’s fingers. The pressure exerted by the fibrous bands on the fetus’s fingers results in the fingers swelling-up, due to lack of blood and oxygen.
Throughout history, due to disadvantages of unsophisticated technology, many people were unable to treat the congenital hand disorders of their babies. However, these days, there are plenty of treatments available for infants, older children and adults alike.
For disorders like trigger finger, the doctor may suggest splinting the affected finger. Splinting the finger for up to 6 weeks can help reduce the occurrence of the condition.
Treatment Options
Surgery is the preferred method for other congenital hand disorders. Once the defects are surgically rectified, Dr. Joshua Gordon and Dr. Leonard Gordon may perform a skin graft if necessary. Prosthetics may be recommended if the fingers or hands cannot be fully-treated through restorative surgeries.
The doctors may also recommend hand therapy to help the patient’s hands and fingers become stronger and more flexible.
The treatment plan will depend on the nature and severity of the patient’s congenital condition. Its best to contact us at the Hand and Microsurgery Medical Group for more information.
