A congenital hand difference, or congenital hand deformity, is a variation in the typical formation of your child’s hand. Congenital means “present at birth.”
Differences in your child’s physical appearance — such as hand differences — are noticeable at birth and can be distressing. In some cases, feelings of anger and guilt develop. You may blame yourself for some “failure” during your pregnancy. Parents may also become angry with their healthcare providers for not detecting the problem during routine prenatal care.
In fact, no one is at fault. Most hand differences aren’t hereditary (don’t run in families). They aren’t preventable, and many can’t be detected before birth.
Congenital hand differences can be grouped based on the type of deformity. These general categories include:
Issues with the formation of the entire arm or hand.
Inability of parts of the hand to separate.
Extra fingers or thumb.
Undergrowth or overgrowth of the hand, fingers and/or thumb.
Dr. Vinay C. Kamble is a highly qualified and skilled medical professional with a career objective focused on seeking a challenging role in a progressive organization. He aims to utilize his skills, abilities, and education in academic pursuits.