This little baby is 4 months old, weighing 10 kilograms. Both of their little hands are chubby, but upon closer inspection, you'll notice that the child's hands can't fully open. Except for the thumbs, all the fingers are fused together. Although the degree of syndactyly isn't the most severe, if left untreated, it will limit the child's hand movement and affect hand development.
Initial Consultation
Does syndactyly surgery always require skin grafting?
The child has six webbed areas on both hands that need to be addressed. After separating the fingers during surgery, there will be significant skin defects. If skin grafting is chosen, a large amount of skin would need to be taken from the child's body.
If parents prefer not to take skin from the child, artificial dermis can be used instead. This material is applied to the surgical wound to induce skin growth, and the new skin will have minimal color difference. However, this method requires around 4–5 weeks of dressing changes.
Does the surgery need to be performed in stages?
Not necessarily. Typically, syndactyly in both hands is addressed in a single operation, except in a few special cases.
Initial Consultation
Can dressing changes be done at a local hospital?
For families living far away, dressing changes can be done locally, especially if the parents are medical professionals. However, if artificial dermis is used, and the distance to the hospital isn't too great, it's best to return to our hospital for dressing changes.
This is because the surgery isn't the end of the process; postoperative care is equally critical. During dressing changes, the recovery process can also be closely monitored. Once the wound has healed sufficiently, we guide parents on how to conduct postoperative exercises and use braces. Therefore, it's better to wait until the wound is fully healed before heading home.
Initial Consultation
When is the best time for surgery?
Generally, there are no specific time or seasonal restrictions for the surgery. As long as the child is at least 6 months old, weighs at least 6 kilograms, and has normal heart and lung function, they can undergo the procedure.
However, parents' concerns are valid. Regardless of the season, careful wound care is essential to prevent infection and other complications. If any issues arise, it's important to communicate with the doctor promptly.