"At fingers' ends": Risk factors and perinatal outcome of pregnancies complicated by digital malformations

Tamar Tzur, Eyal Sheiner*, Adi Y. Weintraub, Moshe Mazor, Arnon Wiznitzer, Eldad Silberstein, Gershon Holcberg, Tali Silberstein

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: To identify the incidence, risk factors, and perinatal outcome of newborns with congenital finger or toe (digital) anomalies. Method: A retrospective study including all neonates born at a tertiary medical center during 2001-2006 with congenital digital anomalies was conducted. The comparison group consisted of newborns without such anomalies born during the same period. Results: Of 115,876 newborns delivered during the study period, 360 (31 per 10,000) were diagnosed with digital anomalies. Polydactyly was the most common diagnosis (n = 263; 73% of digital anomalies). Associated anomalies in these patients were congenital heart malformations (n = 93; 25.8% of the newborns with congenital digital anomalies), central nervous system anomalies (n = 17; 4.7%), and musculoskeletal anomalies (n = 13; 3.6%). Newborns with congenital digital anomalies were more likely to be males (62.2 vs. 37.8%; P < 0.001), and of a Bedouin Arab descent compared to Jewish ethnicity (61.4 vs. 38.6%; P = 0.004). Significantly higher rates of severe pre-eclampsia, recurrent abortions, transverse lie, and low birth-weight (<2,500 g) infants were found among newborns with digital anomalies. Conclusions: The incidence of digital anomalies can vary according to the population characteristics. It may be associated with other skeletal and non-skeletal malformations as well as with certain adverse obstetrical and perinatal outcomes. If a fetal digit anomaly is suspected, a detailed assessment of fetal anatomy is mandatory to exclude other malformations.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)47-52
Number of pages6
JournalArchives of Gynecology and Obstetrics
Volume283
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2011
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Cardiac malformations
  • Digital malformations
  • Perinatal outcome
  • Polydactyly

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