A new technique for the treatment of syndactyly with osseous fusion of the distal phalanges.

In treating complex syndactyly of the hand, including bony union of varying degrees, how to cover the exposed bone surface is still disputable. The authors adopted a homemade device for the treatment of a case of syndactyly with terminal bony union. External tissue expander theory was applied to their device, and expansion of the cutaneous bridge was followed by division of the fused distal phalanges. Two months later the raw bone could be covered simply with the expanded local skin, and no skin graft was needed except for at the base of the affected fingers. This technique produces good cosmetic results of the fingertips and nail grooves without secondary deformities.