What is Amniotic Band Syndrome?

Amniotic Band Syndrome is a set of congenital birth defects believed to be caused by entrapment of fetal parts (usually a limb or digits) in fibrous amniotic bands while in utero.   In other words:  Before the baby was born the body parts that shows signs of ABS (arm, fingers, toes, etc.,) were caught up and entangled in string-like bands.  This caused abnormalities that were present at birth.     With Amniotic Banding no two cases are exactly alike. There are several features that are relatively consistent:  syndactyly (webbed digits),  distal ring constrictions, deformity of the nails, stunted growth of the small bones in the digits, limb length discrepancy, distal lymphedema (swelling), and congenital band indentations. In this photo of Evan's hand you can see the banding line from his wrist to his pinky finger, he also has a banding line around the wrist. This photo is after two operations that separated his webbed fingers (syndactyly).  His three fingers are small, with abnormal finger nails, and missing some joints, there is also some lymphedema (swelling at the joint) of the index finger middle joint.  There is poor circulation in the ring finger as there were no major arteries in it at the time of surgery.  Even on a hot July day, if you hold Evan's hand you can feel how much colder this finger is then the rest of his hand.