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Repair of webbed fingers or toes

Definition:

Repair of webbed fingers or toes is done by surgery. The condition can affect toes, fingers, or both. The middle and ring fingers or the second and third toes are most often affected.

Simple webbing of fingers or toes involves only the skin and other soft tissues. The condition is complicated when it involves fused bones, nerves, blood vessels, and tendons. Generally, the 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 (the patient is asleep and pain-free). Doctors mark the skin areas that need repair. The skin is cut. Small flaps in the web, and at the sides of the fingers or toes, are lifted up. These flaps are sewn into position, leaving missing areas of skin. These areas may be filled in with skin taken from the groin area, if necessary. The hand or foot is then wrapped with a bulky dressings or a cast, so that it cannot move.

How complicated the surgery is depends on whether the condition involves just skin, or whether other soft tissues and bones are involved.

Indications:

This surgery is advised if the webbing causes appearance problems, or if it causes problems in using the fingers or toes.

Before and after webbed finger repair

Syndactyly

Repair of webbed fingers - series

Review Date: 11/2/2006
Reviewed By: Thomas N. Joseph, MD, Private Practice specializing in Orthopaedics, subspecialty Foot and Ankle, Camden Bone & Joint, Camden, SC. Reviewprovided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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