Contents
- Endoscopic Facelift Cost: Comparing Azerbaijan, the US, and Europe
- Endoscopic Brow Lift: Complete Guide
- Why Natural-Looking Facelifts Are Becoming the New Standard in 2026
- Endoscopic Deep Plane Facelift & Advanced Facial Rejuvenation
- Modern Plastic Surgery
- Forehead Lift: Youthful Look with Minimal Scarring
- Waist Slimming Surgery Without Rib Removal In Baku
- Scars After a Deep Plane Facelift, Why They Heal So Well
- Facelift Alternatives – Morpheus8 & Non-Invasive Treatments
Polydactyly Surgery
What is polydactyly surgery
What Is Polydactyly?
Polydactyly is a medical term describing the presence of extra fingers or toes. It is a congenital abnormality related to disturbances in limb formation. These disturbances result from genetic or environmental factors.
Early pregnancy periods are especially important. By 41-43 days of pregnancy, fingers are visible on ultrasound. By day 53, they are fully formed.
This structural defect can only be corrected with plastic surgery. The type of intervention and timing depend on the form of polydactyly. Surgery performed before age 2 allows normal hand function and prevents psychological trauma.
Types of Polydactyly
Three types of polydactyly are determined based on the extra finger's location.
Preaxial polydactyly is duplication of the thumb. Postaxial polydactyly is duplication of the pinky finger. Central polydactyly is duplication of middle fingers, and it is very rare.
Preaxial polydactyly is the most common form. It occurs in about 1 in 1,000 to 10,000 children. Usually, it occurs as an isolated case unrelated to heredity.
Is Polydactyly Dangerous?
The presence of an extra finger does not cause pain. It does not bother the child. For some time, the child does not understand something is wrong.
Later, when the child compares themselves with others, problems arise. The pathology can create discomfort and adaptation issues. Thus, the first negative consequence is psychological trauma.
The second consequence is functional disturbance. This is especially true for thumb duplication and extra phalanges. Writing becomes difficult, small object manipulation becomes difficult, and shoelace tying becomes difficult.
In rare cases, severe anatomical changes occur. Blood circulation dysfunction and nerve dysfunction can result. This can lead to nerve injury, sensation loss, complete loss of movement, or tissue necrosis.
Polydactyly Treatment
The most effective method of polydactyly treatment is surgical correction. Surgery improves the child's appearance and hand function. Surgical treatment includes not just extra finger removal.
It also includes reconstruction of soft tissues, joints, blood vessels, nerves, tendons and ligaments. Plastic surgery always considers the cosmetic outcome. The main goal is to remove the less functional component.
If the extra finger is attached via soft tissue only, simple removal is possible. Ligation can also be used. If the extra finger is well-formed, surgery includes bone structure correction.
Joint and ligament apparatus correction is also done. For central polydactyly, surgeons essentially reshape the entire hand.
Choosing the optimal age for surgery is also important. Very small extra fingers can be removed early at 3-4 weeks after birth. Well-formed extra pinky fingers are usually removed at 6-12 months.
Other well-formed extra fingers are removed later, at 12-18 months. If early surgery was not possible, removal can occur later in adulthood.
Rehabilitation (Recovery) Period
Small non-bone extra finger removal requires no rehabilitation. Analgesics are not needed. Antibacterial drugs are given to prevent infection complications.
Larger surgeries are performed in a clinic under general anesthesia. This anesthesia is adjusted based on the child's age and weight.
After surgery, the child must wear a plaster cast for some time. At follow-up visits, the doctor assesses hand and wrist function. If needed, the patient is given physical exercise instructions.
More careful examination is also needed. This is because polydactyly often accompanies heart defects, facial-head anomalies, blood diseases and others.
I am a plastic surgeon, Mubariz Mammadli. I perform polydactyly surgery professionally. I also provide other plastic-aesthetic and reconstructive surgeries throughout Baku and Azerbaijan.