Outcome of Bilateral Hand Reconstruction in a Child Presenting Late With Apert Syndrome: A Case Report and Literature Review

Apert syndrome is a rare inherited syndrome characterised by craniosynostosis, midface hypoplasia, and syndactyly of the hands and feet. Syndactyly of the hands is categorised into three types with varying severity, requiring a diverse range of surgical techniques to produce good functional and aesthetic outcomes. The best age to initiate hand reconstruction is between three and 12 months. We present a case of a three-year-old boy with type III syndactyly who first presented at a volunteer outreach surgical campus in Pemba, Zanzibar. A three-stage bilateral hand reconstruction was initiated to sequentially create the first, fourth, and second web spaces. Postoperative healing was uneventful. He underwent a hand rehabilitation program and demonstrated good functional outcomes, being able to attend school, hold a pen, and write by seven years old. A literature review revealed that the best age to initiate hand reconstruction or the best surgical technique to use has yet to be agreed upon. It is agreed that the diverse symptoms of Apert syndrome make it difficult to manage, requiring multidisciplinary collaboration to provide physical and emotional benefits to patients and families.