Polydactyly

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Polydactyly - an infant's hand

Overview

Treatment

Polydactyly

Alternative Names:

Extra digits; Supernumerary digits
Home Care:

Home care may be required if surgery is used to remove an extra digit. For example, inspection of the incision to make sure that appropriate healing is taking place and to change the dressing.

Call your health care provider if:

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

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

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The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.

Medical history questions documenting polydactyly in detail may include:

Have any other family members been born with extra fingers or toes?
Is there a known family history of any of the disorders that can be associated with polydactyly?
What other symptoms or abnormalities are also present?

Physical examination:

An infant with polydactyly may have other symptoms and signs that, when taken together, define a specific syndrome or condition. Diagnosis of that condition will be based on a family history, medical history, and thorough physical evaluation.

Diagnostic tests:

Laboratory studies such as chromosome studies, enzyme assays, X-rays, and metabolic studies may be ordered to confirm the presence of a suspected disorder.

After seeing your health care provider:

You may want to add a note to your personal medical record indicating that polydactyly was present, any diagnosis related to it, and any treatment done.