Repair of webbed fingers or toes

Definition

Repair of webbed fingers or toes is surgery to fix webbing of the toes, fingers, or both. The middle and ring fingers or the second and third toes are most often affected.

Alternative Names

Web finger repair; Web toe repair; Syndactyly repair

Description

General anesthesia (the patient is asleep and pain-free) is used. Doctors mark the skin areas that need repair.

The skin is cut. Small flaps in the web, and at the sides of the fingers or toes, are lifted up. The flaps are sewn into position, leaving missing areas of skin. These areas may be filled in with skin taken from the groin area, if necessary. The hand or foot is then wrapped with a bulky dressing or cast so that it cannot move.

Simple webbing of fingers or toes involves only the skin and other soft tissues. The surgery is more complicated when it involves fused bones, nerves, blood vessels, and tendons.

Risks

Risks for any anesthesia include the following:

• Problems breathing
• Reactions to medications

Risks for any surgery include the following:

• Bleeding
• Infection

• Damage from not getting enough blood in the hand or foot, due to the cast
• Loss of skin grafts

Call your doctor if you notice the following:

• Fever
• Fingers that tingle, are numb, or have a bluish tinge
• Severe pain
• Swelling