What is Polydactyly?

Picture: http://www.gfmer.ch/genetic_diseases_v2/gendis_detail_list.php?cat3=645
Picture: http://www.gfmer.ch/genetic_diseases_v2/gendis_detail_list.php?cat3=645

Pre-axial, or radial polydactyly is when an extra thumb is present due to mutations. There are many types of polydactyly, but the one I’m focusing on today is pre-axial. Pre-axial, like any kind of polydactyly can happen in any infant and even other animals. The extra thumb may or may not serve purpose. It may just be a bit of skin or it may have bones and joints, making it functional.

Pre-axial polydactyly happens when the embryo is in it’s 6-7 week when the hands are forming. When the fingers are forming an irregularity happens that causes the thumb to duplicate. Although most types of this polydactyly isn’t inherited it is more likely to occur when the ethnic group is Asian, Caucasian, and Native American. The occurrence of this is usually sporadic and common with the ethnicities above.

Some concerns involving pre-axial polydactyly are the functionality of the hand and if surgery is required. However there can be a little more than this that is worrying. Although rare, it is possible for types of pre-axial polydactyly to correspond with complications such as blood disorders,  heart abnormalities, and craniofacial abnormalities. When this happens the type of polydactyly is syndromic. When there are no further health issues it is isolated. Identifying which genes make polydactyly isolated or syndromic will help further the research of limb development.

The treatment for pre-axial polydactyly, and most others is surgery. While it isn’t always needed, most chose this option for the child. For the operation it is made priority for the thumb to function properly and have the appearance represent a normal hand with functionality coming before appearance. For what is removed the doctors will try and get rid of what doesn’t have function, such as tissue. The final product is to have a single, functional thumb.

 

What do you think still needs to be learned about polydactyly?

Why do people get the extra thumb removed?

What do you think the probability of a person having multiple types of polydactyly is?

1 thought on “What is Polydactyly?

  1. Polydactyly is a one of the most common hand defects, which affects about one out of every 500 to 1,000 babies. Most people get the extra thumb or finger(s) removed so they can be accepted by society and for practicality reasons. Since most utensils and objects are designed for with five fingers, many would get the extra finger(s) removed. Something that stills needs to be learned about Polydactyl is which specific gene causes the baby to inherit this trait.
    http://www.childrenshospital.org/conditions-and-treatments/conditions/polydactyly-of-fingers/symptoms-and-causes
    https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003176.htm
    https://runkle-science.wikispaces.com/Polydactyly

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