Polyactyly

Keywords

Polydactyly, extra fingers, extra toes, appendages, surgery, genetic disorder, birth condition.

Introduction

We don't all have this condition, but it is given at birth. It can be passed down through generations, meaning it is a hereditary genetic condition that gives a baby an extra finger, toe or appendage.

Hands and Feet

Generally speaking, it is the most common occurence of hand and feet defects at birth, but sometimes it doesn't affect anything else with the baby, and they can grow up being healthy and without impairment. It can also occur with other defects during birth, with the addition of other genetic syndromes.

Polydactyly can occur naturally, although it is considered a genetically inherited trait.

It's all Fingers and Toes

When a baby is born with an extra finger or toe, it sometimes means that it needs to be removed. This can be because there is no bone structure to it, or just because it will give the rest of the hand or foot the best outcome.

Interesting fact: cats can be born with polydactyly. This gives them what looks like an opposable thumb, and means they could grip items and objects like a human can.

A baby with polydactyly can have any of the following symptoms:

• Skin and soft tissue
• Skin, soft tissue, and bone but no joint
• Skin, soft tissure and bone with a joint

They can be located:

• On the small finger side - most common
• On the thumb side, also called thumb duplication
• In the middle of the hand - least common

Genetics

So, as I mentioned above it's a genetic condition. It can affect one out of 500 babies, and usually it's only the one hand or foot that is affected. Black children are more inclined to have an extra finger, whereas Asian and white children are inclined to have an extra thumb.