National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Windblown hand


Other Names:
Congenital ulnar drift; Windswept hand; Congenital contractures of the digits
Windblown hand is a hand deformity that is present from birth. The cause of this deformity is unknown. People with windblown hand have flexion contractures of the joints at the base of each finger that prevents normal mobility of their hand and causes their fingers to bend toward their "little" finger (i.e., ulnar drift). In addition, windblown hand is characterized by a "thumb-in-palm deformity" or "clasped thumb" where the thumb is webbed to the palm by a soft tissue bridge.[1]

Click here to view the anatomy of the hand provided by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand.
Last updated: 7/23/2013
The cause of windblown hand is unknown.[2] It is thought that windblown hand may represent a variation of some type of arthrogryposis.[1] Arthrogryposis is a very large and varied group of disorders that have the common feature of multiple congenital joint contractures.
Last updated: 7/23/2013
There have been reports of both sporadic and genetic cases of windblown hand. In genetic cases, the condition is commonly described as having an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance.[2]
Last updated: 7/23/2013
Treatment of windblown hand may involve surgical correction and reconstruction. Because windblown hand has many variations, each patient must be treated individually.[1] We recommend speaking with a healthcare provider to discuss your treatment options. In addition, it may be helpful to set up a consultation with a hand surgeon. The following tool can help you locate a hand surgeon in your area.

American Society for Surgery of Hand
Find-A-Hand Surgeon: http://www.assh.org/Public/Pages/HandSurgeons.aspx

In addition, because windblown hand is thought to possibly be a variant form of arthrogryposis you may find the following Web page with links to help you locate arthrogryposis specialists and specialty centers to be helpful.

A National Support group for Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita (AVENUES)
http://www.avenuesforamc.com/medpros/med.htm
Last updated: 7/23/2013

If you need medical advice, you can look for doctors or other healthcare professionals who have experience with this disease. You may find these specialists through advocacy organizations, clinical trials, or articles published in medical journals. You may also want to contact a university or tertiary medical center in your area, because these centers tend to see more complex cases and have the latest technology and treatments.

If you can’t find a specialist in your local area, try contacting national or international specialists. They may be able to refer you to someone they know through conferences or research efforts. Some specialists may be willing to consult with you or your local doctors over the phone or by email if you can't travel to them for care.

You can find more tips in our guide, How to Find a Disease Specialist. We also encourage you to explore the rest of this page to find resources that can help you find specialists.

Healthcare Resources

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease

Social Networking Websites

  • RareConnect is an online social network for patients and families to connect with one another and share their experience living with a rare disease. The project is a joint collaboration between EURORDIS (European Rare Disease Organisation) and NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders). Click on the link above to view the community for limb differences.

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

  • The American Society for Surgery of the Hand provides information on congenital differences of the hand. Click on American Society for Surgery of the Hand to view the information page.
  • The Children’s Hospital Boston has a information page on congenital limb defects. Click on the link above to view this information page.
  • More information on limb abnormalities can be found at the following link from MedlinePlus, the National Library of Medicine Web site designed to help you research your health questions.

In-Depth Information

  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Windblown hand. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

Questions sent to GARD may be posted here if the information could be helpful to others. We remove all identifying information when posting a question to protect your privacy. If you do not want your question posted, please let us know. Submit a new question

  • My nephew was diagnosed with windblown hand. How is this condition treated? How can I find general information? See answer


  1. Wood VE, Biondi J. Treatment of the windblown hand. J Hand Surg [Am]. 1990;
  2. Grunert J, Jakubietz M, Polykandriotis E, Langer M. The windblown hand - Diagnosis, clinical picture and pathogenesis. Handchir Mikrochir Plast Chir. 2004;