What is Brachydactyly?
Brachydactyly is a genetic trait which causes people to have unusually short fingers and toes. It is a dominant trait, meaning that only one gene for brachydactyly needs to be inherited for the condition to present, and there are a number of different forms which the condition may take. As a general rule, people with brachydactyly can live normal, productive lives, although they may have difficulty in some careers due to their shortened digits. Often, brachydactyly presents on its own, and it is not accompanied with any other physical abnormalities. However, it can also present as part of a syndrome such as dwarfism. The condition is caused by shortening or malformation of the bones in the hands and feet, and in some cases people may also have missing hand and foot bones. In some cases, all of the digits, while in other cases, some of the digits are normal. The effect of polydactyly can seem more extreme when there are missing bones, as it may cause a clubbed or otherwise unusual appea
