1. Is my child's congenital condition inherited?
Most congenital (born with) hand conditions are not inherited. In fact, only about 20% can be passed from generation to generation. These include certain types of cleft hand, same forms of little finger polydactyly, and Apert syndrome. The more common congenital hand conditions, such as thumb polydactyly, finger syndactyly, and hypoplastic/absent thumb are not inherited.
2. Did I do something during pregnancy that caused my child's hand condition?
About 20% of congenital hand problems can be traced back to an environmental factor during pregnancy. Such factors include viral illnesses and certain medications. Most congenital hand conditions are not caused by environmental conditions. However, the best advice is to avoid smoking, alcohol and non-essential medications during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester.
3. When is the best age to undergo surgical of my child's congenital hand condition?
This varies, especially if there are other problems that also need to be addressed, such as cardiac, gastrointestinal, and craniojavial. However, as a general rule, the more common conditions such as thumb polydactyly, webbed fingers (syndactyly), and absent thumb are probably best surgically somewhere between 10 months and 14 months of age.
