Extra fingers:
Extra fingers (Polydactyly) defect is one of the most common birth defects among newborns. It is not a serious problem and can be dealt with as we will explain.
Locations of the defect:
The defect commonly occurs next to the thumb, known as radial polydactyly, or next to the little finger, known as ulnar polydactyly, or between all the fingers.
Causes of extra fingers:
One of the most important causes of this congenital defect is genetic factors, where there may be similar cases within the family.
Surgery:
• The surgery is performed under general anesthesia.
• If the extra finger is composed of excess skin and soft tissues only, the doctor can tie it off to stop the blood supply, causing it to fall off immediately.
• However, if the extra finger consists of skin, soft tissues, and bones, the patient will need a surgical procedure to remove it. If extra finger removal causes deformity, the surgeon may also reshape the fingers again.
Notes:
• This problem can occur in the fingers of the hands and feet.
• If there are finger adhesions, the fingers should be separated first, taking into consideration the length differences between these fingers.
