Repair of webbed fingers or toes

Alternative Names: Web finger repair; Web toe repair; Syndactyly repair

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.

Description of Procedure

This procedure is done using general anesthesia. The patient is asleep and pain-free.

The health care provider will mark the areas of skin that need repair.

The surgeon cuts the skin, then lifts up small flaps in the web and at the sides of the fingers or toes. 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 bandage 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 of Repair of webbed fingers or toes

Risks for any anesthesia include the following:

• Problems breathing
• Reactions to medications

Risks for any surgery include the following:

• Bleeding
• Infection

Other possible complications related to this surgery include the following:

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

Call your doctor if you notice the following:

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

Before and after webbed finger repair	Syndactyly	Repair of webbed fingers - series

Review Date: 7/28/2010
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine; C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Assistant Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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