Comparison of Outcomes of Plantar vs Groin Full-Thickness Skin Graft for Correction of Congenital Syndactyly of Hand

Congenital syndactyly is a condition present at birth in which two or more fingers are joined together. Surgical correction was performed to separate the fingers, improve hand appearance, and support better hand function. After separation of the fingers, a skin graft is often needed to cover the skin defect created during surgery. Full-thickness skin grafts may be taken from different donor sites. The groin has commonly been used as a donor site, but groin skin may differ from hand skin in color and texture. The plantar area of the foot has been considered as an alternative donor site because it may provide better color and texture matching and the donor scar is usually less visible.

This randomized controlled study compared the outcomes of plantar full-thickness skin grafts with groin full-thickness skin grafts in children who underwent surgical correction for congenital simple complete syndactyly of the hand. The study was conducted in the Department of Plastic Surgery, Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Rahim Yar Khan. Children aged 1 to 10 years with congenital simple complete syndactyly who required surgical correction with skin grafting were enrolled after written informed consent was obtained from their guardians. Children with complex syndactyly, associated congenital syndromes, infections, skin diseases, previous surgery on the affected hand, or missing postoperative photographs were not included.

The participants were assigned to one of two treatment groups by sealed opaque envelopes using a lottery method. One group received a plantar full-thickness skin graft, while the other group received a groin full-thickness skin graft. All operations were performed by a consultant plastic surgeon according to standard surgical practice. Postoperative follow-up was carried out at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 6 weeks after surgery.

The main purpose of the study was to compare postoperative complications between the two graft methods. These complications included scar contracture, web creep, donor-site hypertrophic scarring, and delayed healing. Scar contracture referred to tightening or shrinking of the graft or surrounding tissues that could limit finger movement or cause deformity. Web creep referred to distal migration of the reconstructed web space after surgery. Donor-site complications included raised or thickened scarring and delayed wound healing. These outcomes were assessed during follow-up visits by a consultant plastic surgeon who was blinded to the treatment group.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Congenital Syndactyly of Hand
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Plantar Full-Thickness Skin Graft; Procedure: Groin Full-Thickness Skin Graft

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 120
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Pakistan
  • Punjab Province
    • Rahim Yar Khan, Punjab Province, Pakistan, 64200
      • Sheikh Zayed Medical college/hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients aged 1 to 10 years of either gender with congenital simple complete syndactyly
• Cases requiring surgical correction with skin grafting.
• Patients with no prior surgical intervention on the affected hand.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with complex syndactyly or other systemic conditions, including congenital syndromes, infections and skin diseases
• Patients with missing postoperative photographs.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Group I - Plantar Full-Thickness Skin Graft; Participants assigned to this group received surgical correction of congenital simple complete syndactyly of the hand using a plantar full-thickness skin graft. The graft was harvested from the plantar surface of the foot and used to cover the skin defect created after syndactyly release. Participants were followed postoperatively at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 6 weeks for assessment of healing, scar contracture, web creep, donor-site complications, guardian satisfaction, and aesthetic outcome.	Procedure: Plantar Full-Thickness Skin Graft; Syndactyly release was performed under standard surgical protocol. A full-thickness skin graft was harvested from the plantar surface of the foot and applied to the recipient defect after separation of the fused fingers.
Active Comparator: Group II - Groin Full-Thickness Skin Graft; Participants assigned to this group received surgical correction of congenital simple complete syndactyly of the hand using a groin full-thickness skin graft. The graft was harvested from the groin region and used to cover the skin defect created after syndactyly release. Participants were followed postoperatively at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 6 weeks for assessment of healing, scar contracture, web creep, donor-site complications, guardian satisfaction, and aesthetic outcome.	Procedure: Groin Full-Thickness Skin Graft; Syndactyly release was performed under standard surgical protocol. A full-thickness skin graft was harvested from the groin region and applied to the recipient defect after separation of the fused fingers.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Frequency of Scar Contracture	Scar contracture was assessed as abnormal tightening or shrinkage of the graft or surrounding tissue after syndactyly correction, resulting in visible tightness, deformity, or limitation of finger movement at the surgical site. It was graded as none, mild, moderate, or severe according to clinical examination of range of motion and visible contracture. Assessment was performed by a consultant plastic surgeon blinded to the treatment group.	2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 6 weeks after surgery
Frequency of Web Creep	Web creep was assessed as distal migration of the reconstructed web space beyond the expected anatomical location after syndactyly correction. It was evaluated by visual inspection and measurement from the metacarpophalangeal joint crease to the web apex. Web creep was categorized as absent, less than 5 mm, 5 to 10 mm, or more than 10 mm. Assessment was performed by a consultant plastic surgeon blinded to the treatment group.	2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 6 weeks after surgery
Frequency of Donor-Site Hypertrophic Scarring	Donor-site hypertrophic scarring was assessed as a raised, thickened, erythematous, or pruritic scar confined within the boundaries of the original donor-site wound. It was evaluated through visual and tactile examination of the donor site. The outcome was recorded as present or absent. Assessment was performed by a consultant plastic surgeon blinded to the treatment group.	2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 6 weeks after surgery
Frequency of Delayed Healing	Delayed healing was assessed as failure of complete epithelialization of the graft or donor-site wound within more than 3 weeks after surgery, or the presence of wound dehiscence, infection, necrosis, or persistent exudate. The outcome was recorded according to clinical wound examination. Assessment was performed by a consultant plastic surgeon blinded to the treatment group.	2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 6 weeks after surgery

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Aesthetic Outcome Score	The aesthetic outcome of the operated hand was assessed using a 1 to 10 score by a consultant plastic surgeon blinded to the treatment group. The score was based on cosmetic appearance, including scar quality, web space appearance, symmetry, and overall visual restoration of the hand. Lower scores indicated poor aesthetic outcome, while higher scores indicated excellent cosmetic outcome.	6 weeks after surgery
Healing Time	Healing time was recorded as the total number of days required for complete epithelialization of the graft and donor-site wounds after surgery.	Up to 6 weeks after surgery
Guardian Satisfaction Score	Guardian satisfaction with the surgical outcome was recorded using a visual analogue scale ranging from 1 to 10. Lower scores indicated poor satisfaction, while higher scores indicated greater satisfaction with the overall surgical outcome, including appearance, function, and healing of the operated hand.	6 weeks after surgery

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Sheikh Zayed Medical College
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Wardah Rehmat, Sheikh Zayed Medical college/Hospital, Rahimyar Khan

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 31, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): December 31, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 10, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 10, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): June 15, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 15, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 10, 2026
• Last Verified: June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Congenital syndactyly; Syndactyly of hand; Full-thickness skin graft; Plantar full-thickness skin graft; Groin full-thickness skin graft
• Other Study ID Numbers: Sheikh ZMC/H6

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No