Dupuytren's disease causes a similar problem of hand contracture. The surgeon may also need to balance the tendons of the hand and stabilize the remaining finger joints so that the hand functions as normally as possible. Plastic surgeons also reconstruct missing digits, including the thumb, which supplies half of the hand's function. In a typical syndactyly, two fingers are fused together. The surgeon often uses zig-zag incisions to separate the fingers, creating triangular skin flaps.
Skin flaps cover most of the exposed areas between the fingers.
Skin grafts are used to fill the shaded areas at the base of the fingers. In the past decade, laser technology has revolutionized many areas of plastic surgery. Currently, there are many types of lasers available, with many more under development. Therefore, it's important to understand that not all lasers are alike. If you're planning to have laser surgery, it's best to find a doctor who is well experienced with, and has access to, a variety of lasers.