diff --git a/backend/app/db/database.py b/backend/app/db/database.py
index 041aed9..6504004 100644
--- a/backend/app/db/database.py
+++ b/backend/app/db/database.py
@@ -99,6 +99,12 @@ async def init_db() -> None:
             await conn.exec_driver_sql("ALTER TABLE nodes ADD COLUMN height REAL")
         with suppress(OperationalError):
             await conn.exec_driver_sql("ALTER TABLE nodes ADD COLUMN bottom_handles INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 1")
+        with suppress(OperationalError):
+            await conn.exec_driver_sql("ALTER TABLE nodes ADD COLUMN top_handles INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 1")
+        with suppress(OperationalError):
+            await conn.exec_driver_sql("ALTER TABLE nodes ADD COLUMN left_handles INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0")
+        with suppress(OperationalError):
+            await conn.exec_driver_sql("ALTER TABLE nodes ADD COLUMN right_handles INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0")
         with suppress(OperationalError):
             await conn.exec_driver_sql("ALTER TABLE pending_devices ADD COLUMN discovery_source TEXT")
         with suppress(OperationalError):
diff --git a/backend/app/db/models.py b/backend/app/db/models.py
index f749cc7..875ea5d 100644
--- a/backend/app/db/models.py
+++ b/backend/app/db/models.py
@@ -59,6 +59,9 @@ class Node(Base):
     width: Mapped[float | None] = mapped_column(Float, nullable=True)
     height: Mapped[float | None] = mapped_column(Float, nullable=True)
     bottom_handles: Mapped[int] = mapped_column(Integer, default=1)
+    top_handles: Mapped[int] = mapped_column(Integer, default=1)
+    left_handles: Mapped[int] = mapped_column(Integer, default=0)
+    right_handles: Mapped[int] = mapped_column(Integer, default=0)
     ieee_address: Mapped[str | None] = mapped_column(String, index=True, nullable=True)
     last_seen: Mapped[datetime | None] = mapped_column(DateTime(timezone=True))
     last_scan: Mapped[datetime | None] = mapped_column(DateTime(timezone=True))
diff --git a/backend/app/schemas/canvas.py b/backend/app/schemas/canvas.py
index 580daba..8e23860 100644
--- a/backend/app/schemas/canvas.py
+++ b/backend/app/schemas/canvas.py
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@ class NodeSave(BaseModel):
     width: float | None = None
     height: float | None = None
     bottom_handles: int = 1
+    top_handles: int = 1
+    left_handles: int = 0
+    right_handles: int = 0
     pos_x: float = 0
     pos_y: float = 0
 
diff --git a/backend/app/schemas/nodes.py b/backend/app/schemas/nodes.py
index 4fb3597..23d3ea6 100644
--- a/backend/app/schemas/nodes.py
+++ b/backend/app/schemas/nodes.py
@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@ class NodeBase(BaseModel):
     width: float | None = None
     height: float | None = None
     bottom_handles: int = 1
+    top_handles: int = 1
+    left_handles: int = 0
+    right_handles: int = 0
 
 
 class NodeCreate(NodeBase):
@@ -66,6 +69,9 @@ class NodeUpdate(BaseModel):
     width: float | None = None
     height: float | None = None
     bottom_handles: int | None = None
+    top_handles: int | None = None
+    left_handles: int | None = None
+    right_handles: int | None = None
 
 
 class NodeResponse(NodeBase):
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_canvas.py b/backend/tests/test_canvas.py
index d26e9c6..a41e3b4 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_canvas.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_canvas.py
@@ -51,6 +51,32 @@ async def test_save_canvas_creates_nodes_and_edges(client: AsyncClient, headers:
     assert canvas["viewport"] == {"x": 1, "y": 2, "zoom": 1.5}
 
 
+async def test_save_canvas_round_trips_per_side_handles(client: AsyncClient, headers: dict):
+    # Regression (#243): top/left/right_handles must persist across save+reload,
+    # not just bottom_handles.
+    n1 = node_payload(label="Cam", type="camera", top_handles=2, bottom_handles=3, left_handles=1, right_handles=4)
+    res = await client.post("/api/v1/canvas/save", json={"nodes": [n1], "edges": [], "viewport": {"x": 0, "y": 0, "zoom": 1}}, headers=headers)
+    assert res.status_code == 200
+
+    node = (await client.get("/api/v1/canvas", headers=headers)).json()["nodes"][0]
+    assert node["top_handles"] == 2
+    assert node["bottom_handles"] == 3
+    assert node["left_handles"] == 1
+    assert node["right_handles"] == 4
+
+
+async def test_save_canvas_defaults_per_side_handles(client: AsyncClient, headers: dict):
+    # Nodes saved without the new fields fall back to top/bottom=1, left/right=0.
+    n1 = node_payload(label="Srv", type="server")
+    await client.post("/api/v1/canvas/save", json={"nodes": [n1], "edges": [], "viewport": {"x": 0, "y": 0, "zoom": 1}}, headers=headers)
+
+    node = (await client.get("/api/v1/canvas", headers=headers)).json()["nodes"][0]
+    assert node["top_handles"] == 1
+    assert node["bottom_handles"] == 1
+    assert node["left_handles"] == 0
+    assert node["right_handles"] == 0
+
+
 async def test_load_canvas_exposes_inventory_timestamps(client: AsyncClient, headers: dict):
     n1 = node_payload(label="Router", type="router")
     await client.post("/api/v1/canvas/save", json={"nodes": [n1], "edges": [], "viewport": {}}, headers=headers)