Camptodactyly
Camptodactyly is an abnormal bending of the middle joint of a finger. While it is most common in the little finger, it can be present in other fingers
Camptodactyly can be caused by a number of different abnormal structures in your child’s finger:
- Tight skin
- Contracted tendons and ligaments
- Abnormal muscles
- Irregularly shaped bones
Camptodactyly affects about 1 percent of children. It occurs more often in girls than boys.
Camptodactyly means that your child has a bent finger that cannot completely
straighten.
It may be present from infancy or start in teenage years, and as the child grows it may
become worse
If the case is mild, your child won’t have any symptoms. The finger (probably the little
one) will be slightly curved, but it won’t affect hand function in any way. If your child
has a more severe case, it could slightly affect their hand function.
There are three types of camptodactyly:
• Type I – infant onset.
• Type II – adolescent onset, more common in girls than boys.
• Type III – associated with other birth conditions.
The first course of treatment is a programme of stretching and splinting of the finger (s) which is undertaken with the assistance of a hand therapist. Treatment will depend on how bent, and how much the finger can be straightened with pressure. The splints will be monitored and adjusted throughout the treatment plan. Often the splints need only be worn during sleep but sometimes splints may need be worn 8-20 hours each day.
If your child's finger curvature increases rapidly, or if it progresses to the point where it interferes with hand function, your child's doctor may recommend surgery. Surgery depends upon the abnormality of the finger. Surgery often has limited success and can result in difficulty bending the finger after the operation. There is no single operative procedure recommended for all children.
While surgery is usually successful in partially correcting the curvature, your child will likely have some remaining deformity. There is a risk camptodactyly will return and surgery may be needed again in the future
Mild finger flexion abnormalities (bent fingers) rarely cause pain or functional problems with the hand. If your child has a more severe case of camptodactyly it could slightly affect their hand function.