Symbrachydactyly

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Symbrachydactyly is a congenital abnormality, characterized by limb anomalies consisting of brachydactyly, cutaneous syndactyly and global hypoplasia of the hand or, rarely, foot. ^[1] In many cases, bones will be missing from the fingers and some fingers may be missing altogether. The ends of the hand may have "nubbins"—small stumps where the finger would have developed, which may have tiny residual nails.^{[citation needed]}

Symbrachydactyly has been reported to appear without other combined limb anomalies in 1 in 30,000 births. ^[2]

The cause of symbrachydactyly is unknown; doctors theorize that it results from a failure of blood flow in the affected arm, causing the fingers, hand, or part of the arm itself to cease development.^{[citation needed]}

In most cases, children born with symbrachydactyly are able to adapt to their physical limitations and experience a fully functional life with no treatment. Possible treatment includes surgery or a routine of regularly stretching the fingers.

Symbrachydactyly may be confused with Poland syndrome, which is a separate disorder which includes a missing pectoral muscle as one of its symptoms.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] References

^ Mathijssen, I.B.; Cossey, V.; Fryns, J.P.; De Smet, L. & Devriendt, K. (2006), “Unilateral symbrachydactyly of the foot”, Genetic Counselling 17 (1): 77-88
^ Castilla, Eduardo E.; Paz, Joaquin E.; Orioli-Parreiras, Iêda M.; Opitz, John M. & Hermann, Jürgen (2 Jun), “Syndactyly: Frequency of specific types”, American Journal of Medical Genetics 5 (4): 657-364, <http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/110514495/ABSTRACT?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0>