Understanding Congenital Hand Deformities

​A surgeon with expertise in procedures of the hands, wrists, and elbows, Dr. Bobby Chhabra chairs the Department of Orthopaedics and serves as professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of Virginia. In preparation for his medical career, Dr. Bobby Chhabra completed his fellowship in hand, microvascular, and congenital hand surgery at the Hand Center of San Antonio.

According to researchers, 22.5 of every 10,000 babies born exhibit upper limb anomalies. The formation of the hand in utero is extremely complex and can be influenced by a variety of factors, including genetics and environmental contaminants.

Some of the most common congenital hand deformities include polydactylism, a condition in which an infant is born with additional fingers. Only in rare cases are the extra fingers fully functional. Doctors usually treat polydactylism by removing the extra digit or digits.

Radial club hand, another congenital deformity, causes a curved and shortened forearm as well as a stunted or absent thumb. Children with the condition may experience difficulty carrying out activities that necessitate the use of both hands. 

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