What is polydactyly surgery?
What is polydactyly surgery?
Polydactyly is usually treated in early childhood with the removal of the extra finger or toe. If the extra digit is not attached by any bones, a vascular clip may be used to remove it. The vascular clip attaches to the extra digit and cuts off blood flow to it.
Can extra fingers grow back?
In the past, small extra digits used to be “tied off.” This is no longer done because it causes pain for your child and will often leave a “bump.” An extra finger or toe still has a nerve, vein, and artery. When the extra digit is tied off, the body tries to regrow the nerve.
How long does polydactyly surgery take to heal?
Polydactyly Surgery Recovery Recovery after Polydactyly surgery generally depends on the method of surgery performed, but a majority of surgery is considered more amputation-like surgery. For simple soft tissue surgery healing time is often 2-3 weeks, and when bone work is needed healing time can be 6-8 weeks.
What causes human polydactyly?
Polydactyly tends to run in families. It may also result from genetic mutations or environmental causes. The usual treatment is surgery to remove the extra digit.
What causes polydactyly babies?
Polydactyly may also be associated with a genetic condition or syndrome, which means it may be passed down along with a genetic condition. If polydactyly is not passed down, it occurs due to a change in a baby’s genes while it is in the womb.
How common is polydactyly?
About one in 500 people in the United States are affected by polydactyly, with it affecting both males and females at almost the same rate. People of Asian and Caucasian decent are more likely to have radial polydactyly. Ulnar polydactylism is more common in people of African decent.
Is polydactyly fatal?
While polydactylism is not usually a life threatening condition, most parents want the condition treated to allow their child to live as normal a life as possible.
