Cleft hand may be classified according to the increasing extent of the anatomical deficit. Additionally, within any group the letters s or p may denote digits that exhibit syndactyly or polydactyly, respectively. Types 1 to 3 have a central V-shaped cleft but additionally:
Type 4 has an absence of radial digits: thumb, index and middle fingers. Type 5 is monodactylous with only little finger remaining.
An alternative anatomical classification system was described by Sandzen(1) in 1985. Types 1 and 3 are now considered as cleft hand whereas type 2 is increasingly recognised as a form of symbrachydactyly:
Ref: (1) Sandzen SC (1985). Hand Clin 1: 483-498.
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