General Information About Polydactyly
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is the congenital condition of a person having more than five digits on a hand or foot. It is one of the most frequently encountered congenital anomalies of the hands and feet in medicine.
It is largely genetically inherited (autosomal dominant); meaning if a parent has it, there is a high probability the child will have it too. Sometimes, it occurs with no clear cause due to the incorrect separation of limb buds during pregnancy.
If the extra digit is next to the pinky (the most common), it is called Postaxial; if it is next to the thumb, it is Preaxial; and if it is located between the middle fingers, it is called Central polydactyly.
In some cases, it is merely a boneless piece of flesh dangling by a thin stalk of skin (a poorly copied digit). However, sometimes it can be a true, fully functional 6th digit containing fully formed bones, joints, and nerves.
Most often, it is an isolated, harmless structural surplus. However, in syndromic cases, it can accompany various genetic syndromes involving heart diseases or kidney anomalies (such as Patau or Meckel syndrome, etc.).
Digits dangling by a thin stalk of skin can be removed by clamping (ligating) them in an outpatient setting immediately after birth. Developed digits with bones and joints are surgically and aesthetically removed in an operating room, generally as the child approaches 1 year of age, to ensure full hand functions develop properly.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
