Anyone know anything about congenital hand deformities?

[IntergalacticWalrus]

DS2 is 4 months old, and was born with 3 fingers missing from his right hand. He has a little finger and a thumb, which he should be able to use as a pincer type thing.

However, we have noticed over the last month or 2, since he has started to hold things, that he moves his right arm a lot less than his left, and the circulation in this arm seems quite poor. Are there any exercises we can do with him, or any good ways to encourage him to use his arm more?

Any other info would be good, as the consultant we saw at 6 weeks was a bit abrupt with us, and I didn't feel we could ask him anything.

Yes the Crown! It's an interesting establishment, bless it

My HV told me about a baby born with one forearm missing. I can't remember the details but the baby was getting a prosthesis fitted at something like six weeks old so that he would grow up learning to use the arm. I'm sure your baby should be getting some kind of physio to ensure that his arm develops normally.

On the music front, Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath lost the tips of three fingers in an industrial accident. He plays guitar using prosthetics he makes himself.

You may be able to get help from other sources. Maybe a charitable organisation or a local company would be willing to raise funds for the aid your DS requires.

Hi, I have just seen this thread.

My DD now 14 months was born without her left forearm. As a baby she did use it less and would often keep it to one side which worried me. She actually ended up being more advanced than most kids her age as she had such control with her right hand. As she has grown she has found ways to do things herself. She hooks objects under her left arm if she wants to pick things up. She has not been held back at all. She now uses both arms although the left less.

Since they have the elbow joint there should not be a problem with muscle development and in his own time he will learn ways in which to do things.

I personally have decided against prosthetics as not having the arm is so natural for my daughter, I couldn't imagine her coping with an "alien" attachment. Maybe when she is slightly older I will if she asks but while she is still growing I think its best for her to learn as much about her own abilities as she can.

hi
there is an organisation for people with hand/arm deformities,

www.reach.org.uk

they are full of useful info and support etc.we went to them (by mistake) when dd1 was a baby and we weren't sure what was wrong (eventually it turned out to be hemiplegia but we didn't know that then! anyway....)but they sent us all sorts of help, they were excellent.

all the best, take care

Hi, IntergalacticWalrus, I have one myself. I was born with a tiny right hand consisting of 4 little bumps and a shortened deformed thumb. I have always used my right arm less but in a suporting role for most activities- this is normal and makes sense but it does mean that my right arm muscles are weaker and my right arm itself weighs less. This does not matter at all for day to day life. I just carry something in my right pocket to counterbalance.

The very best thing you can do for him is not to encourage him to use the arm per se but to find a way HIMSELF of doing everything he needs to do. Don't do it for him. He will thus learn himself how best to use it and his personality will only benefit from this experience.

As for music, the trombone is a fantastic instrument for this! And you can play Bach cello suites on it too.....

I have also been through countless operations and artificial hands- big time not worth it. If you want to know any more about this I'm willing to tell you.

Thanks everyone

I have been chasing up his appointment with the hand specialist today. I got this scroaty old battleaxe in Orthopedics who was totally useless, and we are still none the wiser

Anyway, we joined Reach a few months ago, and we are going to an Easter party next Saturday, so we can meet other parents in a similar situation.

DS seems to be using his hand a little more now, but his fingers are so loose, I cant really see him getting away without having surgery. We'll see what the consultant says (if we ever get a bloody appointmant through)