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What are Congenital Defects of the Hand and Wrist?

The hand and wrist are formed during the 8th week of gestation. This process consists of various steps and failure in any one or more of these steps may cause congenital or birth defects. The deformities may be major (absence of a bone) or minor (disproportion of a finger).

Types of Congenital Defects of the Hand and Wrist

The various types of hand and wrist defects include:

  • Missing parts of the hand
  • Webbed or fused fingers (syndactyly)
  • Presence of extra fingers (polydactyl)
  • Congenital constriction band syndrome (formation of a band of tissue around a finger, restricting normal growth and blood flow)
  • Undergrowth or overgrowth of the different parts of the hand

Treatments for Congenital Defects of the Hand and Wrist

The congenital conditions of the hand and wrist are treated based on various factors such as your child’s age, severity of the condition and cause of the condition. The different treatments include:

  • Surgical separation of the webbed fingers
  • Removal of the extra finger
  • Use of splints to realign the fingers
  • Tendon transfers
  • Physical therapy to increase the strength in your hand
  • Skin grafts to fill in the missing parts of the hand
  • Correction of contractures

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Pediatric Orthopaedics Clinic locations

  • Idaho Falls Community Hospital Pediatric Specialty Center

    2330 Desoto Street
    Idaho Falls, ID 83404

    Tel :

  • Primary Children's Hospital (PCH)

    100 N. Mario Capecchi Drive
    Suite 4550,
    Salt Lake City, UT  84113

    Tel :

  • Lehi Primary Children’s Hospital

    2250 N Miller Campus Dr
    Suite 300,
    Lehi, UT 84043

    Tel :

  • Utah Valley Outpatient Center (Provo)

    1157 N. 300 W.
    Suite 302,
    Provo, UT 84604

    Tel :

  • Layton Intermountain Hospital (Layton)

    201 W. Layton Parkway,
    Suite 3B,
    Layton, UT 84041

    Tel :

  • Outreach Clinic - Missoula MT

    2360 Mullan Rd
    Suite C,
    Missoula MT 59808

    Tel :

  • Outreach Clinic - St. George

    1380 E Medical Center Drive,
    Bldg 1; St.
    George UT 84790

    Tel :

  • Outreach Clinic - Moab

    Moab Regional Hosp,
    450 Williams Way,
    Moab UT 84532

    Tel :

  • Outreach Clinic - Blanding

    San Juan Health Dept.,
    735 S 200 W Ste 2,
    Blanding UT 84511

    Tel :

  • Outreach clinic - Vernal

    Tricounty Health Dept.,
    133 S 500 E,
    Vernal UT 84078

    Tel :

  • Outreach Clinic- Idaho Falls, ID

    Pediatric Specialty Clinic,
    Eastern ID Regional Medical Center,
    2330 Desoto St.
    Idaho Falls 83401

    Tel :