What is mirror hand syndrome?
Mirror hand syndrome is a very rare congenital difference. In most cases, there is mirrored symmetry of the hand with a central digit and 3 digits on either side and no thumb. There are usually 7 or 8 digits, with middle, ring and small fingers seen on either side of the central digit. Differences are often seen in the forearm and elbow as well. Movement in the fingers, forearm and elbow may be limited. A person who has Ulnar Dimelia can appear to have two hands on one wrist. In these cases, the hands are often joined at the palm and generally symmetrical. The affected person's hand looks as though it has been duplicated, and there may be a cleft in the palm where the hands join. The extra fingers connect to additional bones that run down the carrier's wrist, sometimes extending all the way to their elbow. However, this isn't the only way mirror hand syndrome manifests. Sometimes, a person has additional fingers, as though multiple hands were molded together. There may also be multiple fingertips branching off a single finger, depending on what classification the specific case falls into. People with mirror hand syndrome often cannot move their conjoined appendages independently of one another. Instead, many affected individuals find that when they move one half of their hand, the other half mimics the motion. When grabbing at things, these people's hands open and shut similar to Venus flytraps, with fingers curling inward towards each other. If some fingers are extended, the others may not be able to flex. Not only are a person's digits mirrored symmetrically, but their nerves also seem to react in unison. What causes mirror hand? The exact cause is not known, though the genes responsible for positional information during limb development are likely involved. Mirror hand is diagnosed on prenatal ultrasound or at birth. What are the symptoms of mirror hand? Along with the physical appearance of the upper arm, hand and fingers, mirror hand is also characterized by limited range of motion of the affected limb. What are mirror hand care options? Surgery can help improve appearance and function of mirror hand in affected patients. Though the hand of a person with Ulnar Dimelia may appear to be duplicated down the middle, this usually does not include the thumb. Instead, hands affected by Ulnar Dimelia have either two index fingers in the center or a single, shared index finger. In such cases, no thumb bones are present in the affected individual's hand. When this condition is repaired via surgery, the procedure usually involves creating a thumb using one of the extra fingers. This is not just for cosmetic purposes, as it's a lot easier to navigate the world with working thumbs. By: https://www.facebook.com/250707748679300/posts/777475156002554/
