Intermediate
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
syndactyly
Pronunciation: sin-DAK-ti-lee
Congenital condition where two or more fingers or toes are fused together.
Full Definition
Syndactyly is a common congenital hand anomaly characterized by the fusion of adjacent digits. The condition can involve skin only (simple syndactyly) or include fusion of bone and nail structures (complex syndactyly). Treatment typically involves surgical separation with skin grafting or local flap coverage to create individual fingers with adequate web spaces. Timing of intervention depends on the digits involved and the potential for growth disturbance if correction is delayed.
Usage
Usage note: Not to be confused with polydactyly (extra digits) or camptodactyly (bent fingers).
In Context
- "The patient presented with complete syndactyly between the third and fourth digits." — pediatric hand surgery consultation
- "Complex syndactyly requires careful surgical planning to preserve nail bed function." — surgical planning notes
Also known as
digital fusion
webbed fingers
Contrasted with
polydactyly
Don't confuse with
polydactyly
camptodactyly