CONGENITAL ABNORMALITIES

What are they?
Congenital abnormalities (also called congenital anomalies) of the upper extremity are differences from normal that are present at birth. The differences can range from mild to severe. Examples of cengenital abnormalities in the hand include having:

• More than or fewer than five fingers fingers that won't bend
• Fingers that are too short
• Crooked, or webbed fingers
• Constriction bands on the fingers and/or hand

What causes them?
There are many causes of congenital abnormalities. Some can be explained and others have no known causes. The process of development of a baby from a fertilized egg invovles millions of complicated steps, any of which can go wrong. The upper limbs form between the forth and seventh week of pregnancy; the baby is less than an inch long during this phase of development. It is estimated that one in 20 babies born will have some imperfection, major or minor.

• Some congenital problems are inherited
• Other congeneital problems have non-genetic causes: (Certain drugs, such as thalidomide and chemothereapy agents are known to cause birth defects.)
• Congenital constriction bsands, where threads of amniotic membrane separate from the lining and become wrapped around the fingers and/or hand, can cause defromity in some babies during pregnancy. The cause of this effect is unknown.
• Sometimes, congenital problems sometimes happen with no explaination.

What can be done?
The goal for any person with an upper extremity abnormality is to allow the person to function as normally as possible. Many types of care are available. They include therapy, the use of aids or prostheses, and sometimes surgery.