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Living with Feingold syndrome

A genetic condition affecting the fingers and toes, head size, face and learning, with two types.

Understanding Feingold syndrome

Feingold syndrome is a genetic disorder that affects many parts of the body, especially the fingers and toes.

There are two types, based on genetic cause, with similar features that vary from person to person. Almost everyone has short second and fifth fingers. Common features include a small head, small jaw, narrow eyelid openings, and mild to moderate learning disabilities. Type 1 often includes a digestive blockage (gastrointestinal atresia). It is present from before or at birth.

Signs & symptoms

Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:

  • Short fingers or toes (brachydactyly)
  • Fifth fingers that curve inward
  • Fused toes (syndactyly)
  • Small head size (microcephaly)
  • Small lower jaw (micrognathia)
  • Learning problems or intellectual disability

Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.

Diagnosis

  1. Talk with your doctor

    Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.

  2. See a specialist

    Specialists who may be involved include bone and joint specialists, brain and nervous system specialists, digestive system specialists and genetic specialists.

  3. Ask which tests can help

    Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.

Care & treatment

Care team
Bone and joint specialists (orthopedists or orthopedic surgeons); Brain and nervous system specialists (neurologists); Digestive system specialists (gastroenterologists); Genetic specialists (geneticists)
Expert care
Ask about multidisciplinary care centers for rare conditions
Treatment
GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
Research
Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.

General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.

Everyday life

Living with a rare condition is easier with support.

  • Connect with rare disease patient organizations for support
  • Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
  • Ask about patient registries that help research
  • Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Bring these questions to your next doctor visit
Which type of Feingold syndrome do I or my child have?
Does my child need hearing, heart or kidney checks?
Should we have genetic testing?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startduring Pregnancy and as a Newborn
InheritanceAutosomal Dominant

Changes in genes cause it. It is autosomal dominant, which means one changed copy of a gene is enough.

GeneticRespiratoryNeurologicalGastrointestinal

Also known as: brunner-winter syndrome; digital anomalies with short palpebral fissures and atresia of esophagus or duodenum; digital anomalies with short palpebral fissures and atresia of oesophagus or duodenum; fglds; fs; microcephaly-digital anomalies-normal intelligence syndrome

Patient organizations

Rare-disease groups that can help

Source: NIH GARD · Feingold syndromeGARD ID 8407 · GARD page updated September 2026 · Plain-language summary by Know Rare; editorial review pending. General information, not medical advice.

You are more than your diagnosis

Perspectives from people navigating life with Feingold syndrome.

Explore the Feingold syndrome blog

Explore research for Feingold syndrome

Explore actively recruiting Feingold syndrome studies with HealthSpark.

HealthSpark

Find actively recruiting studies for Feingold syndrome with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.

  • Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
  • Share your city to look for research near you
  • Eligibility is confirmed by the study team

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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.

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