Polydactyly is treated by performing surgery to remove the extra finger.
The extra finger is usually removed when the child is around 1 year old to 2 years old.
During this age the child is young enough to not miss the developmental milestones such as grasping objects although they are able to tolerate surgery and anesthesia better.
Removing the extra fingers and toes is safe when a child has polydactyly.
It is best to have the extra toes or fingers surgically removed.
If the extra digit is on the hand, the surgery is usually done before a child enters school since he or she will be using the hands more in school.
If the extra digit is on the foot, surgery to remove it is done before your child starts to walk.
Because surgery for polydactyly is usually done when a baby is young, most kids learn to use their hands and walk without problems.
If needed, occupational therapy (OT), physical therapy (PT), and home exercises can help a child with this.
Polydactyly causes a person to have extra fingers or toes on one or both of their hands or feet.
The extra digit or digits may be: complete and fully functional. partially formed, with some bone.
The extra fingers are usually small and abnormally developed.
Polydactyly is one of the most common congenital (present at birth) hand abnormalities.
About one out of every 500 to 1,000 babies are born with the condition, usually with only one hand affected.
Polydactyly is most frequent in Indian populations and it is the second most common congenital hand disorder.
The incidence of radial polydactyly is reported as 1 in every 3,000 live births.