Monday 8 June 2009

Syndactyly

Syndactyly is a condition where two or more digits are fused together. It occurs normally in some mammals, such as the siamang but is an unusual condition in humans.


Latest pic from Heather, owner of foot :-)

96 comments:

  1. Quack! This is the closest we'll get to seeing human webbed feet!

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  2. I have to same thing (the toe thing, not the tattoo). I've gotten every reaction from laughing to people being grossed out.

    Yes, It's two separate toes.

    And no, I'm not an amazing swimmer.

    And no, I will not let you cut them apart.

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  3. Anon, we all want pics now :-)

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  4. My family has it for 4 generations. My grandmother had it on both feet. My father and his identical twin, have it (one on the right foot only and the other on the left foot only). My sister has it on both. I have it on my right foot and my son has it on both his feet.

    People always get antsy thinking someone switched their baby. I've never had that problem and never will.

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  5. I also have this on both of my feet, and to tell you the truth I love them! They make me feel happy, even though I used to hate them. My mother is the only person in my family that has it also... that I know of.

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  6. I have it on both of my feet and my son has it on his right foot only! I find it interesting to find others with this similar development. Found out a couple of years ago my wife's OB has the twin toes too.

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  7. I have this on both feet. So does my dad and all of his brothers. Mt grandfather had this too. I think it is really cool. I think "normal" toes look wierd.

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  8. d101dinger/anon/quinniusmaximus/Frank Brusca...I had never heard of this condition until today and so many people have it - I feel left out :-)

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  9. Oh, my, I love it - I'm from a family that has twin toes and I married into a family with it. Three siblings in each family in my generation: one with toes like yours, one with a halfway join like mine and one w/o the join.

    CBRetriever

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  10. CBRetriever, I'm glad to hear you're keeping the joined toes thing alive by marrying into a similar family.

    I won't take credit for the toes in the pic, mine are much more horrendous.

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  11. As far as I know, I'm the only one in my family having webbed toes. My older sister used to torture me by telling me I was supposed to be a duck and that I would turn into one at any time - of course, I stopped believing that around age five.

    All in all, I like my web very much and wouldn't trade it in. :)

    Love the tat!

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  12. I don't have it. How can I get it?

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  13. I have this as well. On my right foot only while my aunt has it on both feet.

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  14. my grandmother and sister and i all have it. i always called it my 'bunny toes' because from the bottom it looks like a bunny rabbit!

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  15. Anon 4, like anon 5 I would like webbed toes, also. Superglue anyone?

    Darkboxofrain, it defo seems to be a hereditary thing, you blessed people!

    Snobahr, it is genius.

    Hello...hello, I looked at my toes there to see what you mean but I don't see it as I have separate toes.

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  16. webbed foot looks so much fun!

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  17. Alex, you get some surgery to graft yours together, then I'll go next - I'll be right behind you...

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  18. This is MY foot! I don't know where people are stealing this pic from but it's funny to see how popular my toes have become.

    Clarification:

    I only have webbed toes on my right foot.

    And no one else in my family has this condition.

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    Replies
    1. Hello,
      I have the same toes webbed and I've been wanting a tattoo near them. However, I'm too nervous about the pain because I've never gotten a tattoo before. How bad was the pain in getting your tattoo on your toes, if you don't mind me asking?

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  19. Anon (owner of toes) Hello! - your foot is now famous and will have to be removed and put in a museum.

    I linked to the website I stole the pic from - no idea where they got it.

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  20. Ps. Owner of toes, if you would like credit and links to your own site, lemme know :-)

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  21. Ha! Saw the photo on Boing Boing. I've got the same toes webbed on both feet. My dad and dad's dad had the same. Nobody else in the family does. No, I'm a rubbish swimmer too and yes, it did freak my wife out when she finally noticed them (MONTHS after we'd started seeing each other.) Hooray! There are more of us out there...

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  22. I think we should get all you webbies together for a big group photo with your toes out :-)

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  23. Dude so the girl whose foot this is emailed me after she found her foot on my blog (woosk). Evidently her friend called her on the morning I posted it (and a ton of other blogs) and told her that her foot is now famous. She said she doesn't know how the image got out, but its history now!

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  24. Woosk, yeah I stumbled it last Monday, she left a comment here. Maybe the tattooist released the pic?

    I feel bad putting the pic up but I would be proud if it was my foot, not to mention famous :-)

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  26. Heather, this post has gotten me the most views since I started blogging, amazing. If that's just one blog, how many millions have seen it on other websites around the internet? :-O

    Boingboing.net spotted it here (I spotted it on link attached) and now everyone wants your foot.

    Just let me know if you want links, names or whatever added on to the post.

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  27. Just a footnote:

    Next come the tee shirts - "Syndactilists Unite!"
    "Syndactyly: The Agony of De Feet!"
    "Here Comes Syndactyly - DUCK!!"
    "Syndactyly: What REALLY happens when you cross your eyes at your mother!"

    Seriously, though - I'd bet you a lot of folks were burned at the stake as witches in the old days because of things like this. Back in Salem this would have been taken for a sign of evil deviltry, to be sure.

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  28. Marcheline, you're right - this is only the start of it.

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  29. Now that's a tattoo /i totally approve of.

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  31. Heather, please reconsider - everyone will miss you, email me again, my internet was playing up, only got email today.

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  32. I have this one both feet (my dad's twin cousins both have it) and I dont understand how I never knew in the 21 years of my life that this was a ACTUAL medical condition that other people have as well.

    BTW this tattoo is epic.

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  33. Sarah, I never knew, either - it's such a trendy condition it seems, I almost feel jealous :-)

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  34. I have read about many types of congenital hand deformities, the most common being polydactyly and syndactyly. The syndactyly deformity occurs 1 in 2,000 births, and the Polydactyly, 1 in every 1,000 but both are usually hereditary, therefore increasing the chances in isolated families.

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  35. Dazy, that's more common that I would have thought.

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  36. Hi, can you help me where did you get this photo with the webbed toes tattoed? I'm writing a wikipedia article and I'd need the 'owner' of this foot because I'd like to put this photo there.
    Thanks!

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  37. Hi! This is the owner of the foot. If you want permission to use my pic, e-mail me at heathereleanora@gmail.com. I've actually gotten it touched up since this pic, so I could take a better one.

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  38. I have the same thing. I have a full on my right foot and a half on my left. I'm the only one in my immediate family that has it, but my aunt has two fulls and my cousin has right and left like mine. It used to hate it but now I'm fine.

    I used to always say if my child has it I would have the doctor separate them but now I'm not sure. It is a great distinction.

    I really like the person's tattoo. I've seen piercings but those are strange... I'm trying to think of what I want. I don't want to copy hers though :) We all want to be originals.

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  39. Anon (jan 6) do you ever get a mad urge to cut them apart? Like when your socks are too tight and your toes are all stuck together.

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  41. I'm glad you decided to leave the pic up, Heather. This is one of the cutest tats I have ever seen in my life! Your toes are adorable. My same two toes are very slightly webbed, wish they were more so because that is cute! If I were you I would wear flip-flops all the time!

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  42. This is so amazing to see that there is more people out there that have my same condition. And to see people react in a positive way towards it is so cool. I've been teased and made fun of my whole life for it so needless to say I've become quite dormant with my feet. encouraging to know not all people are mean

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  43. Joanne, email me and I can send the pic directly to add since you said it didn't work.

    heathereleanora@gmail.com

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  44. email sent Heather, thanks :-)

    Brittany, people are narrow minded fools!

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  45. My daughter born March 26, 2010 was born with her 2nd and 3rd toes webbed only on her left foot. Her toes are more webbed than Heather's (the girl whos foot is in the picture with the tattoo). Her toes are 100% conjoined and her toe nails are joined as well. I haven't been able to find anyone else who's toes are 100% joined as Ashlynne's are.

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  46. Kay, it might surprise you, I bet Heather didn't think her toes would get such a big response. If you want to post a pic just say the word! :-)

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  47. Joanne, I would love to post a pic and see the responses to Ashlynne's toes. How do I post a pic for you?

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  48. Hi Kay. If you want to email the photo to greenmeats@gmail.com and I can post it on this blog?

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  49. Is that your email address Joanne? Yes you can post the picture of her toes on here. I have taken a couple that I will send and you can pick which one or all to post if you want.

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  50. Yes, got em, Kay. So cute, I will call the post Baby Syndactyly. Thanks very much :-)

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  51. http://joannecasey.blogspot.com/2010/05/baby-syndactyly-baby-ashlynnes-toes.html

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  52. i have a question why do you chose to keep them together instead of getting them moved apart?

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  53. "Anonymous said...
    i have a question why do you chose to keep them together instead of getting them moved apart?"

    Why should they be apart? It would just be a pointless operation that would cost money. I like my toes joined together!
    I'm like others, it goes back on my Dad's side of the family by a 4 generations from what we can tell and I have it on both feet.

    I'm really hankering after that tattoo now ;)

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  54. Heather, I am so glad you left the pic. Your toes are so cute. I, too, have webbed toes like yours but on both feet. I luv em. I like the reactions I get from people. We are very unique.

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  55. I also have this in my family!!!grandma, mom and I have it. both mine are full, moms like 1/4. my little boy has it on both feet, but just barely noticable! I bet those of you who have it could notice, but no one else. AWESOME FORUM!!

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  56. Ha! I randomly stumbled on this while I was doing a google search for a foot tattoo. I have the webbed toes too... on both feet. I'm so used to them always being that way, that everyone elses feet look weird to me. My dads were the same as mine... and oddly enough my father-IN-LAW has the same thing, and now my son has them also (on both feet). His pediatrician asked at three appointments if I wanted them separated. No dammit! They're freaking awesome! My hubby calls them my "freak toes." He's just jealous. ;-)

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  57. ... And when my son was born last April, I took a photo during a photo shoot of our feet together, so you can see both pairs of webbed toes. Mine and his tiny little week old baby toes. Love it.

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  58. Katie, awwww, if you want to share the photo, I'd be only too glad to feature it :-)

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  59. My nephew has this. Good thing it doesn't interest with wearing flip flops! We call them his merman toes!

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  60. My mom, myself and my son have them. We love our twin toes but my son's were so close that his toenails were almost impossible to cut and they would grow into the other toe. He had 3 toenails removed and one of the assistants at school told me about this tatoo so we went searching to see it. What a cute idea for those of us that love our twin toes,

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  61. Anon, aww nightmare if the first two toes were joined!

    Anon, ouchies I'm sure that!

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  63. Heather, your toes are an internet sensation!

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  64. luv the tat! super cute!!!!

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  65. love your tatoo, Heather. Thanks, Joanne.
    I have it in my both feet and hands (!)....Rami

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  66. Rami, I love to hear so many folk have the same, it's almost common :)

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  67. I have a webbed toe on my right foot! So many of us...

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  68. Great to see this on show ...I am 46 but had my fingers cut apart at age 3 - both hands had 3rd and 4th fingers , left hand up to nail and right hand 90% up. Also my 2nd and 3rd toes are joined about 20% up. My daughter has toes joined about 2/3 up similar to the blog photo. When i was very young my brother used to tell me i had stuck them with superglue. When people notice my scars ( i am told modern day procedures leave almost no scar) , I generally make some humour from it such as " i had to get it done as i was making a lot of mistakes on the piano" or " i auditioned for Spock but I kept failing on the Live long and Prosper hand sign" - anyway i need new material LOL

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  69. I have webbed toes. How do I post a pic for you?

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  70. I have webbed toes. How do I post a pic for you?

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    1. email me at greenmeats@gmail.com, I'll post it with whatever link you want

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  71. Here's an email I received...

    My name is Seth Helgeson and I came across your blog while seeking out others with 2nd & 3rd toe Syndactyly. I was reading your comments and noticed several people stating that “this runs in my family” and wanted to let you know what this actually means. I have a daughter, Scarlett age 6, who has the same “Bunny Toes” and is also affected by a rare genetic condition called Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome or SLOS for short. Having the “Bunny Toes” does not mean you are syndromic, however, it does indicate that you are a carrier of the Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome.

    What is Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (SLOS)?

    SLOS is a metabolic disorder caused by a mutation in the DHCR7 (7-dehydrocholesterol reductase) gene on chromosome 11. This gene codes for an enzyme that is involved in the production of cholesterol. People who have SLOS are unable to make enough cholesterol to support normal growth and development. Cholesterol is an essential component of the cell membrane and tissues of the brain. A person who can't make enough cholesterol will therefore experience poor growth, developmental delays, and mental retardation. People with this disorder may also have a range of physical malformations (such as extra fingers or toes) and problems with internal organs (such as the heart or kidney).

    How do people get SLOS?

    SLOS is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern. Because it is recessive, a child will not have the symptoms of the disorder unless both parents pass on a defective copy of the DHCR7 gene. This can only happen if both parents are carriers. A carrier is a person who has one good copy and one mutated copy of the DHCR7 gene, but does not experience any symptoms of the disorder. If both parents are carriers, each of their children will have a 25 percent chance of inheriting the disorder.

    I am a board member of the Smith-Lemli-Opitz Foundation and as such I have attached an image that is adored by many on our Facebook wall. We are also trying to create awareness of this condition as 1 in 27 people are carriers of this genetic mutation and 1 in every 20,000 births is affected by SLOS, however, only 1 in 90,000 SLOS births survive,

    The following is the 1st Annual Scarlett Helgeson Walk where we are raising funds for the foundation so we can get this syndrome to be a part of the newborn screening programs nationwide.

    Any support you can provide by means of your blog or even sharing the attached image with your followers and mentioning our fundraising page would be greatly appreciated.

    http://www.smithlemliopitz.org/
    http://igg.me/p/175965?a=805112

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  72. I have the same webbed toes on both feet.

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  73. I have the same webbed toes on both feet.

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  74. My 7 1/2 month old received surgery day before yesterday seperating his middle and ring finger on both hands. The left hand was fused fully and the right was just partial. I had grown use to them being together but I knew it would be better for him in the future. He also has his toes the same way and they are all the way up, but he does have both bones and toe nails and I love his little toes and do not wish them to be sepereate. Seeing that there are more people that love theirs is awesome. Proud to be a mom of a syndactyly :)

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    1. Awww glad to hear his operation was a success!

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  75. Joanne,
    I am in the process of working with Children's Hospital and Washington University and in collaboration with both I have organized the National Foundation for Syndactyly Research, Support, and Eduction. You can follow the organization at www.nfsus.org. You can help by spreading the word about the organization.
    Woody

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  76. This same thing runs in my dads family. I was born with this defect and I must say it makes me feel worlds better knowing that there are other people out there with this same affliction living normal lives.

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    1. Judging from the amount of replies on my tiny blog...there must be 1000's of folks with this around the world.

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  77. I have it too. Would really like to share experiences about it..

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  78. Dude. i have this webbed toe thing as well. 2nd and 3rd toes all the way up. i really don't know of anyone else carrying these... except one other guy i met has them half way up. my uncle is a tattoo artist and thought about tatt toeing this on me since i was little. i am now 21 and am considering this of some sort.

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  79. I have a 9 month old son who has toe webbing. I am wanting to know if anyone would be willing to share their experience as a child with toe webbing. I am hesitant for him to have surgery simply for a cosmetic purposes.
    Thank you

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    1. Hi there, maybe you could contact some of the people who have commented here for a bit of advice

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    2. Hi there! I was never really teased for my toes as a kid, nor was I very self-conscious about it. My mom called them my "lucky toes" when I was a kid to help me embrace this minor difference and view it in a positive light versus a negative light. Perhaps you could try something creative like that to boost your child's confidence? If it's not medically/functionally necessary, I'd avoid the surgery. You could always give your child the option to have them separated when they're older if you see that it's causing them deep psychological harm but, rest assured, it's such a minor physical defect and most people see it as a fun conversation starter more than anything else. Hope this perspective helps! :)

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  80. Hi there! I was never really teased for my toes as a kid, nor was I very self-conscious about it. My mom called them my "lucky toes" when I was a kid to help me embrace this minor difference and view it in a positive light versus a negative light. Perhaps you could try something creative like that to boost your child's confidence? If it's not medically/functionally necessary, I'd avoid the surgery. You could always give your child the option to have them separated when they're older if you see that it's causing them deep psychological harm but, rest assured, it's such a minor physical defect and most people see it as a fun conversation starter more than anything else. Hope this perspective helps! :)

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