View source for Webbed toes

{{hatnote|This article is primarily about humans. For other animals, see [[Webbed foot]].}}
{{More citations needed|date=July 2008}}
{{Infobox medical condition (new)
| name            = Webbed toes
| synonyms        =
| image           = Celldeath.jpg
| caption         = Human foot with partial simple syndactyly.
| pronounce       =
| field           = [[Medical genetics]]
| symptoms        =
| complications   =
| onset           =
| duration        =
| types           =
| causes          =
| risks           =
| diagnosis       =
| differential    =
| prevention      =
| treatment       =
| medication      =
| prognosis       =
| frequency       =
| deaths          =
}}
'''Webbed toes''' is the informal and common name for [[syndactyly]] affecting the feet—the fusion of two or more digits of the feet. This is normal in many birds, such as ducks; amphibians, such as frogs; and some mammals, such as kangaroos. In humans it is rare, occurring once in about 2,000 to 2,500 live births: most commonly the second and third toes are webbed (joined by skin and flexible tissue), which can reach partly or almost fully up the toe.

== Cause ==
The exact cause of the condition is unknown. In some cases, close family members may share this condition.  In other cases, no other related persons have this condition.  The scientific name for the condition is syndactyly, although this term covers both webbed fingers and webbed toes. Syndactyly occurs when [[apoptosis]] or programmed cell death during gestation is absent or incomplete. Webbed toes occur most commonly in the following circumstances:<ref name=":0">{{Citation |last1=Clark |first1=Robin D. |title=Syndactyly |date=2019 |work=Genetic Consultations in the Newborn |pages=223–228 |url=https://doi.org/10.1093/med/9780199990993.003.0033 |access-date=2023-12-23 |publisher=Oxford University Press |doi=10.1093/med/9780199990993.003.0033 |last2=Curry |first2=Cynthia J. |isbn=978-0-19-999099-3 |editor-first1=Robin D. |editor-first2=Cynthia J. |editor-last1=Clark |editor-last2=Curry |author-link2=Cynthia J. Curry|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
* [[Syndactyly]] or familial syndactyly
* [[Down syndrome]]

It is also associated with a number of rare conditions, notably:<ref name=":0" />
* [[Aarskog–Scott syndrome]]
* [[Acrocallosal syndrome]]
* [[Apert syndrome]]
* [[Bardet–Biedl syndrome]]
* [[Carpenter syndrome]]
* [[Cornelia de Lange syndrome]]
* [[Edwards syndrome]]
* [[Jackson–Weiss syndrome]]
* [[Fetal hydantoin syndrome]]
* [[Miller syndrome]]
* [[Pfeiffer syndrome]]
* [[Smith–Lemli–Opitz syndrome]]
* [[Timothy syndrome]]
* [[Ectodermal dysplasia]]
* [[Klippel–Feil syndrome]]

== Diagnosis ==
This condition is normally discovered at birth. If other symptoms are present, a specific syndrome may be indicated.<ref name=":0" /> Diagnosis of a specific syndrome is based on family history, medical history, and a physical exam. Webbed toes are also known as "twin toes," "duck toes," "turkey toes," "tree toes" and "tiger toes."

Severity can vary. Most cases involve the second and third toes but any number of toes can be involved. In some cases the toes are joined part way while in some the webbing can extend right up to the nails. In some cases the entire toes, including the nails and bones, can be fused.

== Treatment ==
[[File:Webbed toes b4.jpg|thumb|Partial simple syndactyly before surgery]]
[[File:Webbed toes after.jpg|thumb|Partial simple syndactyly, 4 months post-op]]
Webbed toes can be separated through surgery. Surgical separation of webbed toes is an example of [[body modification]].

As with any form of surgery, there are risks of complications. In contrast, when left untreated it is very uncommon for webbed toes to cause complications beyond cosmetic considerations. For this reason, many medical professionals do not recommend surgical separation for typical cases.

The end results depend on the extent of the webbing and underlying bone structure. There is usually some degree of scarring, and skin grafts may be required. In rare instances, nerve damage may lead to loss of feeling in the toes and a tingling sensation. There are also reports of partial web grow-back.  The skin grafts needed to fill in the space between the toes can lead to additional scars in the places where the skin is removed.

== Notable cases ==
* [[Dan Aykroyd]] – Canada, actor<ref name="titleSoul survivor | News | Guardian Unlimited Film">{{cite news |url=http://film.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,2172314,00.html |title=Soul survivor |work=The Guardian |access-date=2008-01-01 | location=London | first=Emine | last=Saner | date=2007-09-19}}</ref>
* [[Tricia Helfer]] – Canada, actress<ref>{{cite web|url=http://triciahelfer.com/blog/?page_id=261 |title=Tricia Trivia |access-date=2008-03-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080328160833/http://triciahelfer.com/blog/?page_id=261 |archive-date=2008-03-28 |url-status=dead }}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=March 2010}}
* [[Jacqui Hurley]] – Ireland, sports broadcaster<ref>{{cite news|url=http://2fm.rte.ie/blogs/tubridy/2011/08/tubridy-wednesday-49.html |title=Here's what happened on today's show... |date=31 August 2011 |first=Ryan |last=Tubridy |author-link=Ryan Tubridy |work=Tubridy |publisher=[[RTÉ 2fm]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406093316/http://2fm.rte.ie/blogs/tubridy/2011/08/tubridy-wednesday-49.html |archive-date=6 April 2012 }}</ref>
* [[Ashton Kutcher]] – United States, actor<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/scr/9580324/ |title=Star Tracks (''People'' magazine) |date=16 April 2005 |access-date=2008-03-27}}</ref>
* [[Thomas Robert Malthus]] – England, political economist and demographer {{citation needed|date=October 2020}}
* [[Danielle Panabaker]] – United States, actress<ref>{{cite web |url=http://healthresearchfunding.org/famous-people-webbed-toes/|title= famous people webbed toes|date= 8 March 2014}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=September 2022}}
* [[Conan O'Brien]] – United States, comedian <ref>{{Citation |title=Conan Has Webbed Toes {{!}} Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend | date=22 September 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqWnbwE8I6A |language=en |access-date=2022-12-18}}</ref>
* [[Tim Plester]] – UK, actor, playwright and filmmaker
* [[Joseph Stalin]] – Soviet Union, General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mississippireview.com/1999/0199jpjones.htm |title=Among the Dead |work=[[Mississippi Review]] |access-date=2008-03-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080318150520/http://www.mississippireview.com/1999/0199jpjones.htm |archive-date=2008-03-18 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Understanding Stalin |date=November 2014 |magazine=[[The Atlantic]] |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/11/understanding-stalin/380786/ |last=Applebaum |first=Anne |access-date=2022-09-17 |author-link=Anne Applebaum |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707072530/https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/11/understanding-stalin/380786/ |archive-date=2022-07-07 |url-status=live}}</ref>{{Dubious|date=April 2023}}
* [[Javier Milei]] - [[Argentina]], [[President of Argentina|President]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Florez |first=Fatima |date=January 10, 2024 |title=Instagram post |url=https://twitter.com/AssLatam/status/1745097332536779083 |access-date=January 11, 2024 |website=Twitter}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Webbed foot]]
* Bird feet and legs – [[Bird feet and legs#Webbing and lobation|webbing and lobation]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Medical resources
| DiseasesDB     =
| ICD10          = {{ICD10|Q|70|3|q|65}}
| ICD9           = {{ICD9|755.13}}
| ICDO           =
| OMIM           =
| MedlinePlus    = 003289
| eMedicineSubj  =
| eMedicineTopic =
| MeshID         =
}}
{{Congenital malformations and deformations of musculoskeletal system }}

[[Category:Congenital disorders of musculoskeletal system]]
[[Category:Toes]]