Polydactyly: symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment • hello healthy

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Definition

What is polydactyly?

Polydactyly is a congenital defect or disorder that results in a baby being born with an additional number of fingers or toes. Polydactyly is a condition that can occur in one or both hands or feet.

The term polydactyly comes from Greek, namely poli which means "many" and dactylos which means "fingers". Polydactyly is a congenital condition that can be divided into several types.

Quoting from Kids Health, this birth defect usually occurs most often on the side of the little finger or fifth finger on the hands and feet. This type of polydactyly is postaxial.

In contrast, this birth defect occurs less frequently on the side of the thumb (preaxial) or grows in the middle of the fingers and toes. The size of the extra finger, whether on the hand or foot, is generally smaller than the size of the other fingers.

This congenital disorder can run in families and is also influenced by environmental factors. So, you are at risk of giving birth to a baby with this birth defect if you have other family members who also experience it.

What are the types of polydactyly?

Some of the types of polydactyly are as follows:

1.Additional finger next to the little finger (postaxial polydactyly)

As previously explained, this type is the most common. The addition of the fingers that are next to the position of the little finger can be called postaxial polydactyly or ulnar polydactyly.

The name ulnar in this type is because the additional finger is on the pinky side of the hand which is called the ulnar side. Meanwhile, if the addition is on the little toe, this is referred to as fibular polydactyly.

2.Additional finger next to the thumb (preaxial polydactyly)

In contrast to postaxial polydactyly, preaxial polydactyly is a rare type. This condition is characterized by the position of the extra finger that is next to the thumb, either hand or foot.

If it is next to the thumb of the hand, it is called a polydactyly radial. However, if it is on the outer side of the big toe, it is called tibial polydactyly.

3.Additional finger in the middle of the radius (central polydactyly)

If the additional fingers of the two previous types of polydactyly are on the outside of the five normal fingers, this is different from the central polydactyly.

As the name implies, central polydactyly is a type of disorder when the baby's extra finger is in the middle of the five fingers.

Usually, the extra finger is attached to the ring finger, middle finger, or most commonly the index finger. This condition has the same name when additional fingers appear on the hands and feet.

How common is this condition?

According to the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, this disorder can occur in about 1 in 1000 births of babies.

Polydactyly is a congenital disorder that tends to occur twice as often in male babies as in female babies.

Signs & Symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of polydactyly?

The main symptom of polydactyly is the addition of fingers on the baby's hands or feet, either on one or both.

The extra fingers on both the hands and feet of this baby can take many different shapes. There are additional fingers that are fully formed, aka fully functional like other fingers, are partially formed, or only consist of a small amount of soft tissue.

Launching from Boston Children's Hospital, extra fingers on the hands or feet of babies usually have a smaller size and are not developed normally.

There are several main features of the additional fingers on the hands and feet of a baby, namely:

• Consists of skin and soft tissue. This condition is easiest or simplest to get rid of.
• Consists of skin, soft tissue, and bone, but no joints. This condition tends to be more difficult to get rid of.
• Consists of skin, soft tissue, bones and joints. This condition is the most difficult to remove or change its shape especially if the position is very close to the next finger.

This congenital birth defect is inversely related to syndactyly. If polydactyly makes the number of baby fingers increase, syndactyly actually makes the number of baby fingers decrease because they are fused together.

When to see a doctor?

Polydactyly is a congenital defect that can be easily observed from a newborn. If you see a baby having the symptoms above or other questions, consult a doctor immediately.

The health condition of each person's body is different, including babies. Always consult a doctor in order to get the best treatment regarding the health condition of your baby.

Cause

What causes polydactyly?

As long as the baby is developing in the womb, the process of forming the hands and feet begins with a shape that resembles a paddle, aka oval round.

When entering the 6th week of gestation and 7th week of gestation, the fused hands and feet slowly separate into five fingers.

Babies are said to have this birth defect when the number of fingers and toes is divided into more than five.

This condition can be caused when one finger on the hand, foot, or both of them is split into two parts.

Most cases of birth defects occur for no apparent reason. However, the cause of polydactyly can also be due to genetic factors during pregnancy or family descent.

In other words, genetic or hereditary history from parent to child can be the cause of a baby born with an excess number of fingers or toes.

Risk Factors

What increases the risk of getting polydactyly?

In some cases, the risk of a baby developing this birth defect increases if it is born with a male gender. Meanwhile, the risk of polydactyly in female babies is usually two times lower than that of male babies.

Another thing that is also a risk factor for polydactyly is having African American race or descent. If you want to reduce the risk factors that you and your baby may have, consult your doctor immediately.

Diagnosis & Treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

What are the usual tests to diagnose this condition?

Diagnosis of polydactyly during pregnancy can be made by doctors through ultrasound examination (USG), especially in the first three months or the first trimester of pregnancy.

In addition, doctors usually also ask about the existence of a history of this birth defect in the family if the condition of the baby in the womb leads to this congenital defect.

To be clearer, genetic testing can be the next test to check whether the baby's chromosomes show polydactyly or other congenital defects.

Polydactyly can easily be detected after the baby is born by examination. If it turns out that it is suspected that the baby has another genetic condition, the doctor will usually perform other tests related to the baby's chromosomes.

Not only that, X-rays or x-rays may also be done on babies. X-rays aim to see the types of additional finger abnormalities that the baby has.

Take for example a baby has an extra finger next to the little finger, one thumb, or in the middle of the hand or foot.

What are the treatment options for polydactyly?

Polydactyly is a congenital condition that is usually treated within the first two years of a baby's life. Treatment for polydactyly is surgical, but readjusted according to type.

Handling these birth defects quickly and precisely will help your little one use the function of the affected hands and feet to support the baby's growth and development. This growth and development includes fine motor skills and gross motor skills of the baby.

The various treatments for polydactyly are as follows:

1. Additional fingers next to the little finger

If your little finger is only partially formed and contains no bone, it will be easier for your doctor to remove it.

Meanwhile, the little finger, which has a complete structure such as tissue and bone, can be treated with surgery or surgery.

2. Additional fingers next to the thumbs

Treatment for the condition of the extra finger on the side of the thumb tends to be more difficult than that of the little finger. This is because the extra thumb can affect other functions of the thumb.

Therefore, doctors will usually resort to surgery to produce only one thumb.

3. Additional fingers in the middle

The operation for the extra finger that is in the middle of the other finger is more complex than the previous two types. That is why doctors will usually re-repair the condition of the fingers, whether on the hands or feet, to ensure that they function properly.

For optimal results, more than one operation may be required for the additional case of the middle finger.

Your baby will also need to wear a cast on the hand or foot for a few weeks after surgery.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.