Treating Congenital Hand Differences in Sydney
A congenital hand difference or deformity is an abnormality present at birth. These anomalies can affect crucial aspects of a child’s growth and quality of life. If your child has an abnormality affecting one or both of his or her hands, you can trust Dr Jai Sungaran. With vast expertise in congenital hand differences, the Sydney hand and wrist surgeon can determine the best way to restore normal function and appearance to your child’s hands.
Most Common Congenital Hand Differences
Commonly occurring congenital hand differences include the following:
- shortening of the fingers or missing fingers
- webbed or fused fingers
- extra small finger or thumb
- underdevelopment or absence of the thumb
- constriction band syndrome – bands of tissue form around finger, restricting blood flow and growth
- missing hands or hands that are smaller than normal
What Causes Congenital Hand Differences?
Congenital hand differences occur while the embryo develops the hand and upper limb. This happens early on in gestation. The biological process that causes the development of the hand and upper limb involves many steps. If any of these steps are disrupted, a congenital hand difference can result.
Hand anomalies may be associated with a genetic condition or syndrome that affects other parts of the body, or they may be inherited. In many cases, the cause of congenital hand differences is unknown. For these complex cases, you need the knowledge of a Sydney hand and wrist specialist like Dr Sungaran, who has years of training and experience.
Diagnosing Congenital Hand Differences
Congenital hand differences can usually be seen promptly after birth. In rare cases, a missing or extra digit can be seen on a prenatal ultrasound.
Congenital hand differences are diagnosed with a comprehensive physical examination and a review of the child’s medical history. X-rays provide clear images of the bones in the hands and arm to confirm the location and position of the affected bones and help guide treatment planning.
If a genetic disorder or another medical condition is suspected, genetic testing or other additional tests may be suggested. The heart and kidneys develop around the same time as the hands, so tests may be recommended to determine whether those parts of the body are affected by an underlying medical condition or syndrome.
Treating Congenital Hand Differences
The treatment of congenital hand differences is highly individualized based on the specific condition, its cause and severity and the child’s age and health.
Some children benefit from non-surgical treatment such as physical therapy to improve motion and function in the wrist and fingers. The use of assistive or adaptive devices can make daily activities like feeding or dressing easier.
In other cases, surgery is the most appropriate course of action. As a skilled hand and wrist surgeon, Dr Sungaran can separate webbed fingers, remove extra fingers or reconstruct fingers or other parts of the hand. If Dr Sungaran feels your child could benefit from surgery, he will discuss the most appropriate options with you and go over all of the benefits and potential risks so you feel confident in the proposed plan of action.
When treating congenital hand differences, Dr Sungaran’s priorities are to manage pain or discomfort, restore optimal hand function and maximize cosmetic outcome. He will work closely with you to craft a plan that addresses your child’s differences and helps him or her enjoy a good quality of life.
Contact Southern Hand and Wrist
For more information about congenital hand differences, Sydney hand and wrist surgeon Jai Sungaran invites you to contact our practice today.
