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About Polydactyly

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.

If this happens, a small bump can form where the extra digit was tied off. This is called a neuroma (noo ROW muh) (Picture 3). A neuroma can cause pain and a “stinging” sensation (similar to what you feel when your foot falls asleep).

It is best to have the extra toes or fingers surgically removed. If the extra digit is on the hand, the surgery is usually done before a child enters school since he or she will be using the hands more in school. If the extra digit is on the foot, surgery to remove it is done before your child starts to walk.

When to Call the Doctor Before Surgery

Call your child’s doctor if the extra finger or toe gets twisted and starts to turn blue or black. This sometimes will happen and means it may likely fall off on its own. Your child may experience some pain with this and will need some oral pain medicines.

Tests

Your child’s doctor may order an x-ray of the extra digit to help decide how to treat the polydactyly.

Surgery

• Usually this procedure is done as an outpatient surgery. The child does not usually spend the night in the hospital.
• The surgery staff will call you the day before the procedure to give you instructions about what your child can eat and drink and tell you what time to arrive for surgery.
• Your child will have stitches to close the incision. Special glue will be put over the stitches. The stitches will dissolve and do not need to be removed.
• If your child has complex polydactyly, more extensive surgery is done.Complex polydactyly has a bone, tendon, and ligament in the extra digit. Your child may need a surgical pin in the hand or foot and may have to wear a cast.