Types of Congenital Hand Difference (Part 2)
Children who are born with any kind of condition to the arm or hand are said to have “congenital hand differences.” There are a number of different varieties of congenital hand differences, all of which impact the function and appearance of the hand in different ways.
In this 2 part article, we will discuss some of the more common types of congenital hand differences.
Congenital Hand Difference: Thumb Hypoplasia
Thumb hypoplasia -a common side effect of the congenital difference radial deficiency- occurs when a child’s thumb to be either underdeveloped, or to be missing entirely.
Radial deficiency and thumb hypoplasia may be hereditary, while other occurrences of these congenital hand differences may be related to conditions of the blood, kidneys, or heart. Oakland County hand expert Dr. Rehman may recommend that your child be thoroughly evaluated by their pediatrician and/or a geneticist to properly determine if their particular congenital hand difference is the result of an underlying condition.
Congenital Hand Difference: Transverse Deficiency
Transverse deficiency is a congenital hand difference that causes a patient to be missing all of the elements below a certain level on the arm. As transverse deficiency gives the afflicted the appearance of an amputee, it is occasionally referred to as “congenital amputation.”
This particular congenital hand difference is believed to be caused by blood clots or other vascular problems permanently stunting the development of the arm.
The most common form of transverse deficiency results in the patient missing elements below the elbow.
Congenital Hand Difference: Amniotic Band Syndrome
The membrane that surrounds and protects a gestating baby is called an amnion. If the amnion suffers a rupture during pregnancy, it is possible for strands of the membrane to wrap around the developing baby’s fingers. This results in the congenital hand difference known as Amniotic Band Syndrome (ABS) occurs.
Milder cases of Amniotic Band Syndrome only result in minor indentation or grooves developing in the babies limbs or fingers. More serious cases of this congenital hand difference, however, may see the amniotic bands squeezing tightly enough around the developing body parts to restrict blood flow. In such cases, it can result in the amputation of the afflicted hand, finger, or body part before the baby is born.
Other names for the congenital hand difference ABS include Streeter’s dysplasia, constriction band syndrome, or early amnion rupture sequence (EARS).
CLICK HERE FOR MORE TYPES OF CONGENITAL HAND DIFFERENCES
Congenital Hand Difference – Macomb County
While most children are able to adapt to life with them and may not ever require any treatment, congenital hand differences can result in a number of both physical and emotional challenges. Fortunately, thanks to care from Macomb County board certified congenital hand difference expert Dr. Uzma Rehman, anyone suffering from a congenital hand difference has access to proper treatment.
Each child is unique and Board Certified Macomb County area board certified hand surgeon Dr. Rehman is here to offer your child the surgery, physical therapy and medical care he or she needs to live a full and happy life.
Doctor Rehman will assess your child’s individual condition with gentleness and compassion, and offer the state-of-the-art treatments that are best for your child.
