In the more mildly affected children curving of the fifth finger (clinodactyly), small hands, a short thumb placed closer than usual to the wrist and some limitation of elbow motions are often present, with webbing of one or more fingers (syndactyly) less common. Abnormalities of the hip occur in five to ten percent of the children with CdLS and may interfere with the ability to walk. Surgery may be used to correct this condition.
Of greater relevance to communication because of the interference in the use of sign language or other augmentative strategies for communication are the more severe upper-limb malformations. In some cases fingers, metacarpals and the long bones of the arm are absent.