What is a congenital defect?
A congenital defect is a deformity that a person was born with. When the deformity involves the hand, a child can experience improper hand growth and significant difficulty in using the hand. Most defects, however, can be corrected at a very early age to aid in normal development and functioning.

What are some of the more common congenital defects that can be helped by surgery?
Syndactyly is a common congenital defect. It occurs when two or more fingers are fused, or webbed, together. The cosmetic surgeon will cut the tissue that connects the fingers. Skin is then grafted from another part of the body. When bones are also fused, the surgery becomes more complicated.

A child with polydactyly has an extra finger or fingers. Correction involves more than just removing the extra digit. Often, the surgeon may need to balance the tendons and stabilize the remaining finger joints. Doing so will allow the hand to function as normally as possible.

Other common congenital defects include short, missing or deformed fingers, immobile tendons, and abnormal nerves or blood vessels. Surgery can help most of these defects, with significant improvement for the patient.

When therapy is required, the Rehabilitation department at The Centre, P.C. is staffed by highly skilled, professionally trained therapists who offer a unique variety of treatment options to help patients return to their normal routines as quickly and comfortably as possible.

Contact our plastic surgeons to schedule a consultation about reconstructive hand surgery and congenital defects. The Centre, P.C. offers treatment for congenital defects to patients in Elkhart and South Bend, Indiana, Michiana and the Southern Michigan area, and Chicago.

 

Elkhart Office

RiverPointe Medical Building
500 Arcade Ave., Suite 300
Elkhart, IN 46514
FAX: 574-293-1511

Chesterton Office

Duneland Health & Wellness Institute
810 Michael Drive, Suite K
Chesterton, IN 46304
Fax: 219.926.3534

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