The traditional belief that "having one more finger brings one more blessing" has caused many children with congenital polydactyly to miss the optimal treatment opportunity.
Recently, the orthopedic team at Hainan Chengmei Hospital successfully performed a corrective surgery on an 11-year-old girl with congenital right thumb polydactyly, helping her overcome the deformity and regain normal finger appearance and function.
Wang Kuai-sheng, director of the Orthopedics Department at Hainan Chengmei Hospital, reminds that polydactyly is not a "blessing" but a congenital disease that requires scientific intervention. The best surgical opportunity is around the age of 2, and one should not delay treatment due to traditional beliefs.
An 11-year-old girl with polydactyly delayed treatment until the "late treatment stage"
Tingting (pseudonym), who is 11 years old this year, has been suffering from congenital polydactyly of the right thumb since birth. The extra finger is connected to the normal thumb. As she grows older, it not only affects the appearance of her hand, but also causes the normal thumb to tilt significantly, with the distal phalanx turning inward. Daily fine motor skills such as grasping and writing are also affected to some extent.
"After the child was born, we noticed that her fingers were abnormal, but the elders in the family said 'more fingers bring more blessings' and refused to let her undergo surgery." The girl's parents expressed guilt, saying that it was this traditional misconception that had delayed her surgery for so long. It was only when they recently noticed that her fingers were becoming increasingly crooked and she was developing feelings of inferiority that they made the decision to take her to the hospital.
According to Director Wang Kuai-sheng, congenital polydactyly is the most common congenital malformation of the hands and feet, with a relatively high incidence of polydactyly of the thumb. The etiology of this condition is complex, with genetic factors and gene mutations being the most common. Some cases may also be related to maternal exposure to harmful substances or nutritional deficiencies during pregnancy.
Solve complex challenges while balancing functionality and aesthetics
As Tingting is already 11 years old, her hand bones, tendons, nerves, and other tissues have basically formed, making the surgery significantly more difficult than when she was a toddler.
Director Wang Kuai-sheng explained that the patient's normal thumb had been subjected to long-term traction by the redundant fingers, leading to issues such as joint dislocation and tendon displacement. The surgery required a balance between the removal of the redundant fingers and comprehensive repair of the damaged tissues in order to restore normal function of the fingers.
In response to Tingting's condition, Director Wang Kuai-sheng's team developed a personalized surgical plan. During the operation, they precisely avoided the neurovascular structures to remove the excess fingers, while simultaneously completing joint capsule repair and tendon insertion reconstruction. Additionally, they corrected the skeletal deformity through wedge osteotomy and combined it with internal fixation using Kirschner wires, effectively addressing the issue of finger deviation at its root.
"Children's hands have fine and dense tissues, making surgical precision crucial," said Director Wang Kuai-sheng. "Only by accurately assessing abnormalities in bones, joints, tendons, and skin can we ensure both the effectiveness and appearance of the surgery." The surgery, which lasted nearly an hour, was successfully completed, effectively correcting the child's finger deformity.
Experts remind: around 2 years old is the golden age for surgery
Director Wang Kuai-sheng emphasized that the core of treatment for congenital polydactyly lies in "early correction and functional reconstruction". The optimal surgical timing is around 2 years old, which is beneficial to the physical and mental health of the child.
Director Wang Kuai-sheng also reminded that polydactyly correction is not a simple excision. It requires a personalized plan formulated by a professional doctor, and standardized postoperative care and functional exercise are also indispensable. "Parents should seek medical attention promptly when they discover their child has polydactyly, and should not easily believe in traditional misconceptions."
Currently, the girl's hand wound is recovering well, and the crooked fingers have been corrected. After the removal of the K-wires and completion of functional exercises, she will be able to regain normal hand function.
Expert Introduction
Wang KuaiSheng, Chief Physician
Orthopedic Director, Professor
High-level talents in Hainan Province
Medical expertise
Specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of orthopedic-related diseases such as hand injuries, congenital hand deformities, nerve injuries, vascular injuries, tendon injuries, wrist diseases, peripheral nerve diseases, osteoarthritis, and lumbar diseases; possesses extensive clinical experience in the diagnosis and treatment of trauma diseases such as limb trauma and limb fractures. Skilled in microsurgical techniques, capable of proficiently performing orthopedic microsurgical repair surgeries related to microsurgery, including nerve, vascular, and tendon injury repair, skin flap repair, scar plastic surgery, etc.
Clinic Hours
Tuesday all day (Hainan Cancer Hospital outpatient clinic)
Thursday morning and Friday all day (Hainan Chengmei Hospital outpatient clinic)