The word might sound strange, right? But the occurrence is more common than we think. Thousands of babies around the world are born with polydactyly—or to clarify, are born with extra fingers on their hands or toes on their feet. But after all, why does this happen?
Polydactyly is considered an anomaly that affects the abnormal number of fingers or toes on the hands and feet. Instead of being born with 5 fingers on each hand and foot, the baby is born with a higher number, which may be one or more, and these are considered extra digits. The extra fingers or toes may be fully developed or simply appear as a fleshy protrusion. There are three types of polydactyly: postaxial, preaxial, and central, which describe the location where the extra finger forms. It can occur on the side facing the body, the side facing outward, or in the central part of the hand or foot between the index, middle, and ring finger. The anomaly occurs due to a genetic mutation caused by a dominant autosomal allele. The autosomal allele is the one that determines the genetic traits passed down from the father, the mother, or both. Because of this, if the father has polydactyly, there is a 50% chance that the child will also be born with the anomaly; if both parents have it, the chances rise to 100%.
The diagnosis of polydactyly can be made during pregnancy through an ultrasound exam or after birth by visual inspection. After birth, an X-ray may be requested to evaluate the internal structure of the extra finger or toe. The extra digits may function normally or have no mobility at all.
Is There Treatment for Polydactyly?
Polydactyly itself poses no health risk to the child, but it can cause some discomfort or embarrassment because people might be surprised in general. Therefore, it is recommended to perform reparative surgery to remove the extra fingers or toes. The procedure is considered safe and without post-surgical complications. In the case of rudimentary digits, which have no bones and no mobility, they can be removed right after the baby is born. For digits with bones, removal requires closer follow-up by a specialist and is usually recommended for children over 3 years old.
The most astonishing case recorded so far in the world was of a Japanese baby born with 16 toes and 15 fingers. Each baby may be born with a different type of polydactyly as well as a differing number and location of extra digits. Therefore, treatment for each individual is unique and should be overseen by a specialist to assess the case and indicate the appropriate treatment.
See Also: Eyes of Different Colors – Why Does This Happen?
Photos: ReSurge International
