Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesTypes of Webbed ToesIs Correction Needed?SurgeryLiving With Webbed Toes
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Types of Webbed Toes
Is Correction Needed?
Surgery
Living With Webbed Toes
Webbed toes are among the most common anatomical differences seen in newborns. The medical term for webbed digits is “syndactyly.” The cause may be genetic, inherited, or unknown.
Webbed toes may not affect function or activity level, but surgery can correct them if the condition restricts activity or causes discomfort. They can also be corrected for cosmetic reasons.
This article will explore webbed toes and what can be done to address them.
Victoria Krivousova / Getty Images.
What Causes Webbed Toes?
When a fetus is developing in the uterus, its fingers and toes are fused until about six to eight weeks of gestation.The tissue connecting them then begins to die off, so the digits separate in most cases. However, in some fetuses, tissue remains, which results in webbed toes or fingers.
Some of these genetic changes don’t appear to have effects other than webbed digits. In other cases, webbed digits may appear in genetic conditions that have many other effects.
Webbed digits can result fromApert syndrome, a rare genetic anomaly that affects the bones. The condition generally is due to a mutation (genetic change) occurring in the fetus rather than being inherited from a parent. But a person with Apert syndrome may then pass the condition to their offspring.
Bardet-Biedl syndrome is an inherited condition that typically affects eyesight but is also associated with syndactyly.About 9% of children withDown syndrome(a chromosomal condition) also have webbed toes.
How Common Are Webbed Toes?Webbed fingers or toes affect about 1 in 2,500 newborns. Webbed toes are the second most common congenital (present at birth) limb difference.It is found about twice as often in males than females and is more likely to occur in White babies than those of other races.
How Common Are Webbed Toes?
Webbed fingers or toes affect about 1 in 2,500 newborns. Webbed toes are the second most common congenital (present at birth) limb difference.It is found about twice as often in males than females and is more likely to occur in White babies than those of other races.
In some ancient and modern cultures, webbed toes have spiritual associations. They may be considered a sign of good luck, divinity, or a special connection to the natural world. In folklore, webbed toes are seen as protection from evil spirits or as a magical ability to heal or cast spells.
Webbing of the skin between the second and third toe, called zygodactyly, is the most common form of fusion. The second most common form is webbed skin between the fourth and fifth toe.
Do Webbed Toes Need Correcting?
Children with webbed toes may not need treatment if the webbing is not affecting their mobility. However, in some cases, webbed toes can affect function and balance, and surgery can usually correct them.
Surgery is also an option if a person has concerns about the appearance of the foot. There is no other treatment for webbed toes.
Surgery for Webbed Toes
If surgery is the chosen treatment for a child, it is usually done when a child is between 1 and 2 years old. This reduces the chance of developing a malformed joint and lowersanesthesia risks, which are higher in younger children.
The surgery can also be done in adults, but it can be more complicated and take longer to recover.
The surgical approach varies depending on the complexity of the fusion. If only skin and soft tissue are connected, the surgeon can simply split the skin, sometimes in a “Z” shape. They may use askin graftfrom another part of the body to cover the wound completely.
If more than two toes are involved, the provider may recommend a series of surgeries rather than addressing all the fusions at once.
Occasionally, scar tissue grows between the toes, a condition called “web creep.” A second surgery can correct this issue. Web creep is more likely in children who have the surgery before they turn 1.
After the operation, a healthcare provider will put a cast over the foot. In a few weeks, the cast will be removed and replaced with a brace until the foot has healed. If needed, physical therapy can aid in recovery.
If you decide not to correct webbed toes, perhaps because the webbing is minimal, there are a few considerations to take into account:
Summary
Webbed toes and fingers are among the most common anatomical differences in newborns. The causes may be unknown or genetic. Some genetic causes can be inherited. Surgery can correct the fusion, and the operation is usually done on children when they are between 1 and 2 years of age.
In minor cases, in which only the skin is fused, surgery may not be necessary except for cosmetic reasons. The surgery can be relatively simple or more complex, depending on the nature of the webbing, which can involve skin, skin and other soft tissue, or sometimes bones, ligaments, and tendons.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Apert syndrome.Cincinnati Children’s.Webbed fingers and toes (syndactyly). November 2022.Ahmed H, Akbari H, Emami A, Akbari MR.Genetic overview of syndactyly and polydactyly.Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2017;5(11):e1549. doi:10.1097/GOX.0000000000001549National Organization for Rare Disorders.Apert syndrome. 2019.E. Mansour, et al.A podoscopic and descriptive study of foot deformities in patients with Down syndrome.Orthopaedics & Traumatology: Surgery & Research. 2017;103(1):123-127. doi:10.1016/j.otsr.2016.10.001Kim JH, Kim BJ, Kwon ST.Foot syndactyly: a clinical and demographic analysis.Arch Plast Surg. 2016;43(6):559-563. doi:10.5999/aps.2016.43.6.559Boston Children’s Hospital.Syndactyly.Atma Wise.What is the spiritual symbolism of webbed toes?Malik S.Syndactyly: phenotypes, genetics and current classification.Eur J Hum Genet. 2012;20(8):817-824. doi:10.1038/ejhg.2012.14
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Apert syndrome.Cincinnati Children’s.Webbed fingers and toes (syndactyly). November 2022.Ahmed H, Akbari H, Emami A, Akbari MR.Genetic overview of syndactyly and polydactyly.Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2017;5(11):e1549. doi:10.1097/GOX.0000000000001549National Organization for Rare Disorders.Apert syndrome. 2019.E. Mansour, et al.A podoscopic and descriptive study of foot deformities in patients with Down syndrome.Orthopaedics & Traumatology: Surgery & Research. 2017;103(1):123-127. doi:10.1016/j.otsr.2016.10.001Kim JH, Kim BJ, Kwon ST.Foot syndactyly: a clinical and demographic analysis.Arch Plast Surg. 2016;43(6):559-563. doi:10.5999/aps.2016.43.6.559Boston Children’s Hospital.Syndactyly.Atma Wise.What is the spiritual symbolism of webbed toes?Malik S.Syndactyly: phenotypes, genetics and current classification.Eur J Hum Genet. 2012;20(8):817-824. doi:10.1038/ejhg.2012.14
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Apert syndrome.Cincinnati Children’s.Webbed fingers and toes (syndactyly). November 2022.Ahmed H, Akbari H, Emami A, Akbari MR.Genetic overview of syndactyly and polydactyly.Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2017;5(11):e1549. doi:10.1097/GOX.0000000000001549National Organization for Rare Disorders.Apert syndrome. 2019.E. Mansour, et al.A podoscopic and descriptive study of foot deformities in patients with Down syndrome.Orthopaedics & Traumatology: Surgery & Research. 2017;103(1):123-127. doi:10.1016/j.otsr.2016.10.001Kim JH, Kim BJ, Kwon ST.Foot syndactyly: a clinical and demographic analysis.Arch Plast Surg. 2016;43(6):559-563. doi:10.5999/aps.2016.43.6.559Boston Children’s Hospital.Syndactyly.Atma Wise.What is the spiritual symbolism of webbed toes?Malik S.Syndactyly: phenotypes, genetics and current classification.Eur J Hum Genet. 2012;20(8):817-824. doi:10.1038/ejhg.2012.14
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Apert syndrome.
Cincinnati Children’s.Webbed fingers and toes (syndactyly). November 2022.
Ahmed H, Akbari H, Emami A, Akbari MR.Genetic overview of syndactyly and polydactyly.Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2017;5(11):e1549. doi:10.1097/GOX.0000000000001549
National Organization for Rare Disorders.Apert syndrome. 2019.
E. Mansour, et al.A podoscopic and descriptive study of foot deformities in patients with Down syndrome.Orthopaedics & Traumatology: Surgery & Research. 2017;103(1):123-127. doi:10.1016/j.otsr.2016.10.001
Kim JH, Kim BJ, Kwon ST.Foot syndactyly: a clinical and demographic analysis.Arch Plast Surg. 2016;43(6):559-563. doi:10.5999/aps.2016.43.6.559
Boston Children’s Hospital.Syndactyly.
Atma Wise.What is the spiritual symbolism of webbed toes?
Malik S.Syndactyly: phenotypes, genetics and current classification.Eur J Hum Genet. 2012;20(8):817-824. doi:10.1038/ejhg.2012.14
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