What is Cleft Hand?
Cleft Hand is a rare condition in which the centre of a child’s hand is missing a finger or fingers. left Hand makes up less than 5 percent of all congenital hand differences.
Cleft Hand occurs when a child’s hand doesn’t develop fully during pregnancy. The condition can only sometimes be detected on a routine prenatal ultrasound. After the baby is born, the difference is visible.
Although Cleft Hand usually affects both hands, it can also occur in only one hand. Children born with Cleft Hand may also have cleft foot.
Not all Cleft Hands look the same. Typically, the centre portion of the hand is missing a finger or fingers and there’s a V-shaped cleft in that space. Less often, clefts occur on the thumb side or the little finger side of the hand.
In the majority of children with Cleft Hand, the condition is an isolated occurrence that affects only the hands. Your child’s doctor will check for other associated differences or syndromes, including cleft foot, cleft lip, and cleft palate.
What causes Cleft Hand?
Cleft Hand develops during pregnancy when the bones of the hand are forming. The exact cause is unknown, but scientists and doctors are learning more and more about the possible genetic causes (passed from parent to child).
How is Cleft Hand treated?
Not all Cleft Hands need treatment. If there are at least 2 digits which can work opposite each other, then a very good function can be achieved without any intervention.
Surgery needs to be individually determined and aimed at improving existing function and cosmesis by watching how the child uses his/her hand.