{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,4]],"date-time":"2026-05-04T10:23:13Z","timestamp":1777890193142,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":26,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,5]],"date-time":"2025-05-05T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1746403200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JCM"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Syndactyly, the congenital fusion of digits, compromises hand function and esthetics. Although surgical separation is the standard treatment, the optimal timing of the intervention remains controversial. Methods: We prospectively analyzed 20 pediatric patients (86 operated fingers) undergoing syndactyly repair, comparing early (\u226424 months) versus delayed (&gt;24 months) surgery. Outcome measures included range of motion (ROM) at the metacarpophalangeal (MP), proximal interphalangeal (PIP), and distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints; complications (synostosis, nail deformities, finger length disparity, webbing); and patient-reported outcomes assessed by the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) and overall esthetic satisfaction scores. Results: The median age at surgery was 31 months (IQR25\/75: 24.75\u201336.5), with a median follow-up of 72 months (IQR25\/75: 42.0\u201386.25). Notably, digits III (28.24%) and IV (29.41%) were predominantly affected. Delayed surgery resulted in significantly improved MP ROM (90.98\u00b0 \u00b1 8.44\u00b0 vs. 73.13\u00b0 \u00b1 22.37\u00b0, p = 0.004) and DIP ROM (76.28\u00b0 \u00b1 22.24\u00b0 vs. 67.19\u00b0 \u00b1 22.78\u00b0, p = 0.028), with a non-significant trend toward better PIP ROM (93.00\u00b0 \u00b1 25.18\u00b0 vs. 77.37\u00b0 \u00b1 30.29\u00b0, p = 0.075). Furthermore, the incidence of synostosis was markedly reduced in the delayed surgery group (6.0% vs. 38.9%, p = 0.001). Despite superior joint function associated with delayed intervention, early surgery patients reported higher satisfaction with cosmetic results (3.00 vs. 2.80, p = 0.028), while the DASH scores remained comparably low between groups (0.00 vs. 0.24, p = 0.141). Finger length disparities and webbing were minimal. Conclusions: Our study challenges the conventional advocacy for early syndactyly repair, by demonstrating that delaying surgery beyond 24 months significantly enhances joint mobility and reduces the synostosis rate. However, the higher satisfaction observed as a result of early intervention suggests that surgical timing should be individualized for affected fingers, joints, and severities to balance the functional and cosmetic outcomes. Further studies are needed to define the optimal surgical timing and techniques for pediatric syndactyly.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm14093200","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,5]],"date-time":"2025-05-05T21:42:09Z","timestamp":1746481329000},"page":"3200","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Delayed Surgical Management of Congenital Syndactyly Improves Range of Motion: A Long-Term Follow-Up"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6705-3292","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Aba","family":"L\u0151rincz","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Thermophysiology, Institute for Translational Medicine, Medical School, University of P\u00e9cs, 12 Szigeti Street, H7624 P\u00e9cs, Hungary"},{"name":"Institute of Information and Electrical Technology, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of P\u00e9cs, Boszork\u00e1ny Street 2, H7624 P\u00e9cs, Hungary"},{"name":"Division of Pediatric Surgery, Traumatology, Urology and Pediatric Otolaryngology, Department of Pediatrics, Medical School, University of P\u00e9cs, 7 J\u00f3zsef Attila Street, H7623 P\u00e9cs, Hungary"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5584-9410","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Hermann","family":"Nudelman","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Thermophysiology, Institute for Translational Medicine, Medical School, University of P\u00e9cs, 12 Szigeti Street, H7624 P\u00e9cs, Hungary"},{"name":"Division of Pediatric Surgery, Traumatology, Urology and Pediatric Otolaryngology, Department of Pediatrics, Medical School, University of P\u00e9cs, 7 J\u00f3zsef Attila Street, H7623 P\u00e9cs, Hungary"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Edina Ilona","family":"Kormos","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Pediatric Surgery, Traumatology, Urology and Pediatric Otolaryngology, Department of Pediatrics, Medical School, University of P\u00e9cs, 7 J\u00f3zsef Attila Street, H7623 P\u00e9cs, Hungary"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3348-5385","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gerg\u0151","family":"J\u00f3zsa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Thermophysiology, Institute for Translational Medicine, Medical School, University of P\u00e9cs, 12 Szigeti Street, H7624 P\u00e9cs, Hungary"},{"name":"Division of Pediatric Surgery, Traumatology, Urology and Pediatric Otolaryngology, Department of Pediatrics, Medical School, University of P\u00e9cs, 7 J\u00f3zsef Attila Street, H7623 P\u00e9cs, Hungary"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,5]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"357","DOI":"10.1002\/ajmg.1320050406","article-title":"Syndactyly: Frequency of Specific Types","volume":"5","author":"Castilla","year":"1980","journal-title":"Am. 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