TY  - CHAP
T1  - Camptodactyly
T2  - Living Textbook of Hand Surgery
AU  - Hülsemann, Wiebke
ED  - Böttcher, Richarda
AD  - Dr. Wiebke Hülsemann, Catholic Children's Hospital Wilhelmstift, Former Head of Hand Surgery Department, Liliencronstraße 130, 22149, Hamburg, Germany, E-mail: wiebke.huelsemann@t-online.de
N2  - Camptodactyly is a non-traumatic painless flexion contracture of a finger with the little finger most commonly affected. The exact cause is unknown. Camptodactyly is classified into three types. The infantile type appears in infants and the juvenile type before puberty. The third syndromic type is part of distal arthrogryposis or certain syndromes and involves multiple fingers. Several anatomical structures may be altered, particularly the flexor digitorum superficialis tendon, the retinaculum cutis and occasionally an atypical lumbrical muscle. These changes can cause shortening of the palmar skin, weakening of the central slip, and deformation of the bones around the PIP joint. When the contracture reaches 60 degrees or more, grasping is significantly impaired. Early treatment is important to prevent secondary changes. Conservative management with well-fitted splints, manual therapy and good cooperation from both child and parents can often improve the contracture. If there is no improvement with conservative therapy despite good compliance, a stepwise palmar release operation can be indicated. During surgery, it is crucial to address the individual pathologies, as well as to follow up with thorough, intensive hand therapy after the operation. 
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/07/22
DO  - 10.5680/lhhs000033
LA  - en
L1  - https://books.publisso.de/index.php/en/system/getFile/71692
UR  - https://dx.doi.org/10.5680/lhhs000033
L2  - https://dx.doi.org/10.5680/lhhs000033
KW  - camptodactyly
KW  - flexion contracture
KW  - lumbrical muscle anomalies
KW  - palmar release
PB  - German Medical Science GMS Publishing House
CY  - Cologne
ER  -