Results of the correction of syndactyly of the hand by using Skoog’s technique

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

Syndactyly is a congenital anomaly of the hand, occurring in approximately 1 in every 2000 births. It is more common in male patients and is present in both hands in 50% of the cases. The objective of this study was to describe a series of cases of patients with hand syndactyly, operated at the Sarah Hospital in Brasília using modified Skoog’s technique and orthosis.

Methods:

The modified Skoog’s technique was performed to correct syndactyly. Wrist-hand and finger orthosis was applied postoperatively, and the appearance of the scar was assessed according to the Vancouver Scar Scale.

Results:

Forty-five patients were assessed during five years, of whom 30 (66%) were male and 15 were female, all aged between 1 and 4 years (mean age: 2 years [60%]); 37% of cases were associated with syndromes and 50% were simple bilateral cases. Complications observed in simple syndactyly occurred in 8% of patients and included scar retraction, visible scars, and ungual changes; three patients (6%) underwent revision surgery with z-plasty and confection of a new web space commissure to correct scar retraction, and four patients required finger realignment, observed in complex syndactyly.

Conclusion:

This technique resulted in 92% good functional outcomes, 8% complications associated with the surgical technique, and three revision procedures with z-plasty and confection of the web space commissure with a new flap and skin graft to correct scar retraction. The Vancouver scale was used to assess scar quality, and pigmentation between the fingers (due to skin graft) had the highest score.

Keywords:
Syndactyly; Congenital syndactyly; Syndactyly Correction