Trust your child’s health and well-being to a skilled, caring pediatric plastic surgeon

Having your child diagnosed with amniotic band syndrome can be an overwhelming experience, leaving you feeling scared and unsure what to do. That’s where Dr. Sharline Aboutanos comes in. Her friendly bedside manner, commitment to patient comfort and safety, and vast knowledge of pediatric plastic surgery make her an excellent choice for treating the conditions associated with your child’s amniotic band syndrome.

What is Amniotic Band Syndrome?

Amniotic band syndrome occurs when fibrous bands wrap around parts of the fetus in the womb. These bands can affect the way a baby develops and grows. They can restrict circulation to the baby’s extremities, often resulting in partial or complete amputation of the baby’s fingers, toes, hands or feet. Conditions associated with amniotic band syndrome include webbed fingers (syndactyly), nail deformities, arms or legs of different lengths, lymphedema of the legs or arms affected, and band indentations. Other conditions associated with amniotic band syndrome include hemangioma, cleft lip and/or palate and clubfeet. Each child affected by amniotic bands can have different clinical symptoms.

Amniotic band syndrome is rare. It is not a genetic or inherited condition. It is thought to be caused by damage to the amniotic sac. Amniotic band syndrome can be diagnosed by ultrasound in utero. X-rays of the baby’s hand or feet may be necessary after birth.

How Do You Treat Amniotic Band Syndrome?

Treatment options vary for each child and depend on the severity of the banding. Reconstructive surgeries include cleft lip and palate repair, syndactyly release (separating fingers) with and without skin grafting, and release of constricting bands. Timing of surgery depends on the severity of the bands. Cleft lip repair typically occurs at three months of age. Syndactyly release and release of constricting bands typically begins at six months of age. Cleft palate repair is performed before one year of age.

There is no increased risk of amniotic band syndrome in future pregnancies. Other names for amniotic band syndrome include amniotic constriction bands, constriction band syndrome, congenital constriction rings, Streeter anomaly and Streeter bands.

Dr. Aboutanos is a pediatric and craniofacial plastic surgeon in Richmond, Virginia who can care for your child with amniotic band syndrome as he/she grows and develops. Dr. Aboutanos is a member of the accredited Cleft and Craniofacial Team at St. Mary’s Hospital, and she can coordinate your child’s reconstructive needs with other specialists, such as speech and physical therapists. She will help guide you through each surgery and phase of growth with kindness, understanding, and an expert touch.