BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuArachnodactylyDolichostenomelia; Spider fingers; AchromachiaArachnodactyly is a condition in which the fingers are long, slender, and curved. They look like the legs of a spider (arachnid). Considerations Long, slender fingers can be normal and not associated with any medical problems. In some cases, however, "spider fingers" can be a sign of an underlying disorder. Causes Causes may include:Homocystinuria HomocystinuriaHomocystinuria is a genetic disorder that affects the metabolism of the amino acid methionine. Amino acids are the building blocks of all proteins i...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Marfan syndrome Marfan syndromeMarfan syndrome is a disorder of connective tissue. This is the tissue that strengthens the body's structures. Disorders of connective tissue affect...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Other rare genetic disorders When to Contact a Medical Professional Some children are born with arachnodactyly. It may become more evident over time. Talk to your health care provider if your child has long, slender fingers and you are concerned that an underlying condition may exist. What to Expect at Your Office Visit The provider will perform a physical exam. You will be asked questions about the medical history. This includes:When did you first notice the fingers being shaped like this? Is there any family history of early death? Is there any family history of known hereditary disorders? What other symptoms are present? Have you noticed any other unusual things? Diagnostic tests are most often not necessary unless a hereditary disorder is suspected.Open ReferencesReferencesDoyle Al, Doyle JJ, Dietz HC. Marfan syndrome. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 722.Grahame R, Hakim AJ. Arachnodactyly--a key to diagnosing heritable disorders of connective tissue. Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2013;9(6):358-364. PMID: 23478494 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23478494/.Herring JA. Orthopaedic-related syndromes. In: Herring JA, ed. Tachdjian's Pediatric Orthopaedics. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 37.AllVideoImagesTogRelated Information Review Date: 12/31/2023 Reviewed By: Mary J. Terrell, MD, IBCLC, Neonatologist, Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, Fayetteville, NC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
ArachnodactylyDolichostenomelia; Spider fingers; AchromachiaArachnodactyly is a condition in which the fingers are long, slender, and curved. They look like the legs of a spider (arachnid). Considerations Long, slender fingers can be normal and not associated with any medical problems. In some cases, however, "spider fingers" can be a sign of an underlying disorder. Causes Causes may include:Homocystinuria HomocystinuriaHomocystinuria is a genetic disorder that affects the metabolism of the amino acid methionine. Amino acids are the building blocks of all proteins i...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Marfan syndrome Marfan syndromeMarfan syndrome is a disorder of connective tissue. This is the tissue that strengthens the body's structures. Disorders of connective tissue affect...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Other rare genetic disorders When to Contact a Medical Professional Some children are born with arachnodactyly. It may become more evident over time. Talk to your health care provider if your child has long, slender fingers and you are concerned that an underlying condition may exist. What to Expect at Your Office Visit The provider will perform a physical exam. You will be asked questions about the medical history. This includes:When did you first notice the fingers being shaped like this? Is there any family history of early death? Is there any family history of known hereditary disorders? What other symptoms are present? Have you noticed any other unusual things? Diagnostic tests are most often not necessary unless a hereditary disorder is suspected.Open ReferencesReferencesDoyle Al, Doyle JJ, Dietz HC. Marfan syndrome. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 722.Grahame R, Hakim AJ. Arachnodactyly--a key to diagnosing heritable disorders of connective tissue. Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2013;9(6):358-364. PMID: 23478494 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23478494/.Herring JA. Orthopaedic-related syndromes. In: Herring JA, ed. Tachdjian's Pediatric Orthopaedics. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 37.