Common Anomalies of the Hand and Digits

Epidemiology and Terminology Polydactyly (duplicated digits) is the most common congenital anomaly of the

hand. The incidence ranges from 1 in 300 in African Americans to 1 in 3000 in Asians and Caucasians. Syndactyly (webbed digits) is the second most common anomaly. In Caucasians, the incidence is 7 in 10,000. Roughly a third of cases are hereditary. These inherited cases are typically bilateral and occur more frequendy in males.