Hand Surgery for Children in London.
If your child was born with fused or extra fingers, most differences like these are corrected with straightforward surgery in early childhood. You get an honest assessment from a consultant paediatric plastic surgeon who operates and cares for your child herself, inside a full children's hospital.
- Consultant Paediatric Plastic Surgeon
- Evelina London Children's Hospital
- 13+ years in plastic surgery
Miss Jana Torres-Grau assesses and treats hand differences in children at Evelina London Children's Hospital.
Most common differences, such as fused or extra fingers, are corrected with a single operation, usually carried out between one and four years of age. She operates and follows up herself, with the hospital's full hand and upper-limb team behind her.
- Hospital
- Consultant at Evelina London Children's Hospital
- Patients
- From birth to 18
- Registration
- GMC Specialist Register, FRCS (Plast)
- Availability
- Same-week appointments
Common Hand Differences in Children
Most hand differences in children are present at birth, and the common ones are well understood and very treatable. A hand difference simply means a hand that has formed in a different way, and it is one of several differences your child may be born with.
Syndactyly means joined fingers. Fingers may be linked by skin alone, or in some cases the bones are joined too. It is one of the most common hand differences, affecting around one in a thousand babies.
Polydactyly means an extra finger or thumb. This can range from a small skin tag to a fully formed digit with its own bone. Some children have a thumb that is smaller or weaker than usual, known as thumb hypoplasia. Plenty of children use their hands very well, and some differences need no surgery at all.
When Surgery Is Needed
Surgery is needed when a hand difference affects how well your child can use their hand, and sometimes for how the hand looks. Many simple differences are corrected with one operation, while some children manage very well without any surgery at all.
Timing matters, and most hand surgery in children is carried out between about one and four years of age. By then the hand is big enough to operate on safely, and it is done while a child is still young enough to adapt quickly.
A small number of differences need attention sooner, for example a tight band of tissue affecting a fingertip, and these are picked up at the first assessment. The aim is always a hand that works as well as possible, and an honest assessment comes first.
The Operation and Recovery
Which operation your child needs depends on the difference, and most are done in a single visit under a general anaesthetic. Children usually go home the day after surgery, with the hand in a soft protective bandage for a few weeks while it heals.
To separate joined fingers, the surgeon reshapes the skin to rebuild the web between them, and sometimes uses a small skin graft taken from a hidden site so the scar stays out of view. To remove an extra finger, the digit is taken away and the remaining one tidied so the hand looks and works as it should.
Children adapt quickly and are soon using the hand in everyday play. Scars fade over time, and because children are still growing, about one in ten need a further small operation later on. Every step is carried out at Evelina London Children's Hospital, geared around young patients.
Why Families Come to Me
- 13+
- Years across plastic surgery
- GMC
- Specialist Register
Miss Jana Torres-Grau
Consultant Paediatric Plastic Surgeon
I carry out your child's surgery myself.
I operate and look after your child at every stage, from the first appointment to the final follow-up.
A full children's hospital around your child.
Care takes place at Evelina London Children's Hospital, so the hand therapy, genetics and wider team are there if a complex difference needs them.
An honest view first.
If your child does not need surgery, I will tell you, because the goal is the right outcome for your child.
Trained across the breadth of plastic surgery.
My training spanned more than thirteen years, including burns, trauma and children's reconstruction. I speak English and Spanish and usually see patients within the same week.
How Your Child's Care Works
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Enquiry
You contact the team and we reply the same day, then arrange your first appointment, either in person or online.
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First appointment
I examine your child's hand, explain what I see in plain language, and set out the options honestly, including whether surgery is needed at all.
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Clinic letter and quote
You receive a written summary of the appointment and a clear quote for any procedure, confirmed in writing before anything goes ahead.
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Surgery and discharge
If you go ahead, the operation is booked at a time that suits you, and your child goes home with a full discharge summary and my contact details.
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Follow-up
I call a few days after surgery to check on your child, and all further follow-up is included in the price.
What Treatment Costs
A first assessment is £250. If surgery is right for your child, a written quote follows before you commit to anything.
- Number of fingers involved
- One operation or staged across more than one
- Type of anaesthetic required
Not sure whether your child's hand needs surgery?
An assessment will give you a clear answer. No obligation, and no pressure to go ahead.
Clear answers before you decide
Open any question to read more. At consultation, Miss Torres-Grau will talk through what is most relevant for your child.
What is syndactyly?
Syndactyly means two or more fingers that are joined, either by skin alone or, less often, by bone as well. It is one of the most common hand differences and is usually corrected by surgery that separates the fingers, most often in the early years of childhood.
Does my child's hand difference need surgery?
Some differences need surgery and others do not. The right answer depends on whether it affects how your child uses or feels about their hand. An assessment gives you a clear view of the options and what, if anything, should be done.
At what age is children's hand surgery done?
Children's hand surgery is usually done between about one and four years of age. By then the hand is large enough to operate on safely and the child is still young enough to adapt quickly, though a small number of differences are treated earlier.
Will the operation leave a scar?
There will be a scar, but it fades over time and is placed as carefully as possible, often in a line that is hard to see. Because children keep growing, about one in ten need a further small operation later as the hand develops.
Is hand surgery safe for young children?
Hand surgery is very safe when carried out by an experienced consultant in a children's hospital. Serious problems are rare, and the operation is done under a general anaesthetic with a full paediatric team and intensive care available if it were ever needed.
How much does it cost?
The first assessment is £250, and if surgery is needed you receive a written quote beforehand. Costs for the operation depend on how many fingers are involved, whether one operation or more is needed, and the anaesthetic.
Book a hand surgery consultation
Fill in the form and the team will be in touch, usually the same day. There is no obligation, and I will always give you an honest view of whether hand surgery is the right choice for your child.
- We aim to reply the same day
- A GP referral is not needed, though helpful if you have one
- Consultations in English and Spanish
- Honest advice on whether ear correction surgery is right for your child, and the best age to consider it
Send us a message
All fields marked * are required. Your details are kept private and never shared.
From worry to a clear plan.
Most hand differences in children have clear, well-understood treatments. An honest assessment gives you a clear picture and tells you where your child actually stands. If you would like a clear view on your child's hand, I am glad to help.
No obligation. We are happy to answer anything you are unsure about.
Miss Jana Torres-Grau · Evelina London Children's Hospital, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7EH
