Syndactyly

In human medicine called syndactyly ( from Ancient Greek syn σύν together ' and δάκτυλος daktylos, finger ') is a congenital anatomical malformation of the limbs ( dysmelia ), which is characterized by an intergrowth or non- separating fingers or toes members. Differences are cutaneous, osseous or complete syndactyly.

The special feature is innate and occurs during the period of about 5 to 7 week of development of the embryo. Some of syndactyly can already prenatally under pränataldiagnostischer ultrasound ( often in fine ultrasound) detected in a child.

The adhesions or non separations may be genetically determined features randomly (see amniotic band syndrome) or caused by alcohol consumption during pregnancy, but also be a symptom. Thus, a syndactyly 3/4 ( ie from the middle and ring finger ) is a frequent feature in children with triploidy. Also in Aarskog syndrome, Adams -Oliver syndrome and the Fraser syndrome, syndactyly above average often happens. When Smith - Lemli -Opitz syndrome is a syndactyly 2/3 of the toes is frequently observed.

The simple syndactyly (finger grown together, but separately applied finger bones ) are found in about one in 10,000 newborn infants. It is customary to surgical correction in the second half year of life. In most cases before the age of three carried an operational separation of the limbs. The relevant characteristic as well as the possibilities of surgical treatment of syndactyly vary, inter alia, depending on whether the feature by a fusion of bone or bone bleeds ( osseous syndactyly ) or by a combination skin (similar to a swimming skin, known as cutaneous syndactyly ) emerged is.

Furthermore, there is the Pseudosyndaktylie formed by mutilation in a dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa ( Hallopeau Siemens). The syndactyly or Pseudosyndaktylie only arises in infancy or early childhood. The operational separation is possible.