Repair of webbed fingers or toes

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Before and after webbed finger repair

Repair of webbed fingers or toes

Definition:

The repair of webbed fingers or toes is corrective or reconstructive surgery to repair syndactyly, which can affect toes, fingers, or both. The middle and ring fingers or the second and third toes are most often affected.

Simple syndactyly involves only the skin and other soft tissues. Complex syndactyly involves fused bones, nerves, blood vessels, and tendons. Generally, syndactyly repairs are done between the ages of 6 months and 2 years.

Alternative Names:

Web finger repair; Web toe repair; Syndactyly repair

Description:

General anesthesia is used. Skin areas to be repaired are marked. The skin is cut, and small flaps at the sides of the fingers or toes and in the web are lifted up. These flaps are sewn into position, leaving absent areas of skin. These areas may be filled in with full-thickness skin grafts taken from the skin in the groin area, if necessary. The hand or foot is then immobilized with bulky dressings or a cast.

The complexity of the surgery depends on whether the condition involves just skin, or whether other soft tissues and bones are involved.

Indications:

This surgery is advised for syndactyly in which functional ability or cosmetic appearance is impaired.

Review Date: 10/27/2004
Reviewed By: Kevin B. Freedman, M.D., M.S.C.E., Sports Medicine, Orthopaedic Specialists, Bryn Mawr, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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