A congenital deformity characterized by fusion of the fingers or toes is called?

• A. syndactyly
• B. polydactyly
• C. clubfoot
• D. brachydactyly

Answer: (A)

Syndactyly is the condition where two or more digits are fused together, often because the normal programmed cell death that separates fingers or toes fails to occur during embryonic development. This fusion can be limited to soft tissue (skin) in milder forms or involve bones in more complex cases. In ultrasound, you’d look for tissue connecting the digits, which may be just skin or may include shared bone structure if the fusion is more extensive. This is distinct from other congenital digit anomalies: polydactyly means extra digits; clubfoot refers to a foot deformity involving the ankle and foot alignment; brachydactyly means abnormally short digits. Syndactyly best fits the description of fusion of fingers or toes.