Camptodactyly

Camptodactyly is a rare congenital hand disorder. According to official data, it occurs in 3 thousand babies out of 5 million newborns. It occurs mainly in boys four times more often than in girls. The cause is usually a genetic factor. The disease is based on improper fixation of the joints of the fingers of the hand, their weak development, which leads to deformation that interferes with the correct movement of the hand and even prevents it from bending. An extremely rare complication is hand mutilation. Treatment is surgical only: the underdeveloped joint is corrected using bone blocks. However, correction does not always lead to recovery; deformities are often detected in adulthood.

Camptodacty is a rare genetic mutation that causes excessive flexion of the toes and/or hand. It is characterized by an abnormal curve in each finger that resembles a cat's paw. This causes the fingers to be in an unnatural position and makes walking and other daily tasks difficult.

The history of the study of camptodacty goes back centuries and is associated with ancient African peoples such as the Pygmies and Bantu. European colonizers noticed this anomaly as a cultural trait and called it the hula dancer. Currently, the word "camptodaktylia" is used to describe this pathology.

Camptodacty is usually inherited and is not caused by any infection or injury. The genetics of this condition are unknown, but it is believed that changes occur in a specific gene or chromosome.