Congenital defects of the hand are those that a child is born with. Hand deformities are particularly problematic for a child because it can interfere with how the child learns to interact with the environment. Fortunately; however, most defects can be treated at a very young age. Early correction allows for the normal development and functioning of the hand.

Surgical procedures allow for the treatment of many common congenital defects, including short, missing, or deformed fingers, abnormal nerves or blood vessels, and immobile tendons. One of the most frequent defects treated is syndactyly, a condition in which two or more digits are fused together. To treat this, surgeons divide the tissue connecting the fingers and close the incision with skin grafting. This procedure results in a full range of motion and a quite normal appearance for the hand.