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Polydactyly

Contents of this page:

Illustrations

Polydactyly - an infant's hand
Polydactyly - an infant's hand

Alternative Names    Return to top

Extra digits; Supernumerary digits

Definition    Return to top

Polydactyly is a condition in which a person has more than five fingers per hand or five toes per foot.

Considerations    Return to top

Having an abnormal number of digits (6 or more) can occur on its own, without any other symptoms or disease. Polydactyly may be passed down (inherited) in families. This trait involves only one gene that can cause several variations.

African Americans, more than other ethnic groups, can inherit a 6th finger. In most cases, this is not caused by a genetic disease.

Polydactyly can also occur with some genetic diseases.

Extra digits may be poorly developed and attached by a small stalk (generally on the little finger side of the hand). Or, they may be well-formed and may even function. Poorly formed digits are usually removed. Simply tying a tight string around the stalk can cause it to fall off in time if there are no bones in the digit.

Larger digits may need surgery to be removed. The doctor should ask the parents whether there was polydactyly at birth, because a person may not know they have it.

Causes    Return to top

Home Care    Return to top

Home care may be needed after surgery to remove an extra digit. For example, you will need to check the surgical area to make sure that it is healing correctly and to change the dressing.

When to Contact a Medical Professional    Return to top

This condition is normally discovered at birth and evaluated during the newborn's hospital stay.

What to Expect at Your Office Visit    Return to top

The doctor will diagnose the condition based on a family history, medical history, and physical examination.

Medical history questions may include:

Tests used to diagnose the condition:

After seeing your health care provider, you may want to add a note to your personal medical record about polydactyly, its diagnosis and treatment.

During pregnancy, this condition may be diagnosed with ultrasound or a more advanced test called embryofetoscopy during the first three months (trimester).

Update Date: 2/5/2008

Updated by: Chad Haldeman-Englert, MD, Division of Human Genetics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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