Mode of inheritance of syndactyly in selected human families in Bahawalnagar, Pakistan

Syndactyly is joining or merging of web in feet and hands digits. It is inherited by autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, x-linked, and y-linked manner. Its prevalence is around 1 in 2000 live birth. Non-syndromic syndactyly is classified into nine types. In this study, we find out prevalence, percentage, types, and mode of inheritance of syndactyly in families of district Bahawalnagar. The survey was carried out in hospitals, schools, and villages of district Bahawalnagar to find out the patients with congenital syndactyly. Three families with cousin marriages were selected for pedigrees. These families had 2:1 of foot and hand syndactyly. The percentage of complete and incomplete syndactyly was recorded 50% in all families. The mode of inheritance was autosomal dominant and autosomal recessive pattern because of two types of syndactyly type I (SD1) and syndactyly type I-c. In families Bwn1, Bwn2, and Bwn3 the percentage of family members associated with syndactyly was 16%, 9.7%, and 6.89% respectively. It was further noted that all male members of all families were affected with syndactyly. This study finds out the type I (SD1) and type I-c syndactyly in the studied sample population.