Congenital Hand Differences clinic
Conditions
Congenital hand conditions are differences (anomalies) in the hand and arm that occur when a child is developing before birth. The anomaly may occur by itself or can be associated with problems with other body systems. The musculoskeletal (bones and muscles), cardiovascular (heart, arteries and veins), craniofacial (head and face) or neurological (brain, spinal cord and nerves) systems are most commonly involved. When a hand anomaly is part of a syndrome, a geneticist and/or other specialists may be involved with the child's care. Congenital hand anomalies may have genetic, environmental or unknown origin.
There are many different types of congenital hand conditions. Below you will see a list of some of the more common anomalies organized into their classification groups. To learn more about a specific condition and the treatment options, click on the name of the condition below:
Failure of Formation of Parts | ||
| Condition | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Amputation (loss) of arm | |
| Absent or underdeveloped radius bone | |
| Absent or underdeveloped ulna bone | |
| Absentce of central part of hand | |
| U-shaped underdevelopment of hand with short fingers | |
Failure of Differentiation of Parts | ||
Condition | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Fingers are fused together | |
| Abnormal bending of middle joint of finger | |
| Bending of finger towards the side | |
| Stiffness of finger in any joint | |
| Abnormal shortening (contracture) of joint tissues | |
Duplication | ||
| Condition | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Extra finger(s) is (are) present | |
Undergrowth | ||
| Condition | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Under development or absence of thumb | |
Overgrowth | ||
| Condition | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Enlargement of finger(s) | |
Congenital Constriction Band Syndrome | ||
| Condition | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Ring-like tightening of skin often causing amputations | |
Generalized Skeletal Deformities |
Condition |
|---|
Madelung's Deformity |
Hypochondroplasia |
How to make a referral
Referrals to the Congenital Hand Clinic can be made from Community Paediatricians, Family Physicians and Plastic Surgeons.
Referring professionals accepted | • Family physicians |
Patient group parameters | Some cases may be more suitable for our satellite clinics. |
Requirements pre-visit | • If x-rays have been done please have them accompany patients to the clinic |
Initial Visit | Within two to six months of receipt of referral |
Age limit | 18 years |
How to make a referral
• Send your referral via ARMs, our on-line Ambulatory Referral Management System or
• Fax a completed referral form (available in PDF format). View the clinical directory for fax numbers.
• Learn more about the ARM system.