Pediatric Polydactyly

If your baby was born with extra fingers or toes, our specialists can help. At Children’s Hospital, we provide expert care for this common condition, called polydactyly, including advanced surgical options.

Our pediatric plastic surgeons and pediatric orthopaedic surgeons offer surgery for even the most complex types of polydactyly. We also provide kid-focused occupational therapy services to help your child gain the best use of their hands and feet.

With specialized treatment, your child can have hands or feet that work normally and have a typical appearance.

Our Polydactyly Experts

At Children’s Hospital, we’ve assembled a team of specialists to treat kids with extra fingers and toes. Your child’s care team involves:

Pediatric hand surgeons (including pediatric orthopaedic surgeons and pediatric plastic surgeons) who can perform a range of complex surgeries
Occupational therapists, who work with kids of all ages in children’s therapy services
Certified hand therapists, who can provide exercises and other therapies to improve your child’s hand function after surgery
Geneticists, who can test your baby for genetic disorders that can cause polydactyly

Signs and Causes of Polydactyly

Signs your baby has polydactyly include:

An extra thumb or big toe (preaxial polydactyly)
An extra finger or toe between the three central fingers or toes (central polydactyly)
An extra pinkie finger or toe (postaxial polydactyly)

Your baby may have developed an extra digit because of a genetic mutation (change) or disorder. Or they may have polydactyly because of events or issues that occurred during their development. For many babies with the condition, the cause is not known.

When to Seek Care for Polydactyly

Having an extra finger or toe is not painful for your baby. However, it could affect the function of their hand or foot as they grow.

If your baby has polydactyly, we can help. Your OB/GYN, maternal fetal medicine specialist, neonatologist (newborn intensive care specialist) or pediatrician can refer you to us. Or you can reach out to our office directly.

Our Approach to Diagnosing Polydactyly

Your baby may have been diagnosed with extra digits during the prenatal ultrasound. Or you may have received your baby’s diagnosis after they were born.

Either way, our coordinator can set up a meeting with a polydactyly specialist. During your first visit, we’ll examine your baby and take X-rays of their hand or foot. Then, we’ll work together on a personalized plan that meets your family’s goals and preferences.

Polydactyly Treatment at MU Health Care

We provide many options to treat babies with extra fingers and toes.

Polydactyly Surgery

Our pediatric plastic surgeons and pediatric orthopaedic surgeons offer several procedures for different types of polydactyly. Options include:

Removing an extra non-working finger or toe, which may only require a local anesthetic. Your surgeon can usually perform this procedure in the office while your baby is a newborn.
Removing more fully formed fingers while your child is under general anesthesia. We often postpone this more advanced procedure until your child is older because it requires more anesthesia.

When needed, our surgeons can also perform all types of leading-edge reconstructions of the hands and feet. We use advanced techniques to rebuild the bones, soft tissues and skin of fingers and toes.

Hand Therapy and Occupational Therapy

Regardless of whether your baby needs specialized therapy after their extra finger or toe is removed or a complex reconstruction, we offer personalized support for your family.

Certified hand therapists use physical therapy and other techniques to help improve your child’s hand function. Our occupation therapists are also available to help kids learn to better use their hands and feet.