Long-term results of surgical treatment of thumb polydactyly

Abstract

One hundred thirteen hands exhibiting thumb polydactyly were treated and followed up for an average of 49 months. Of these, 109 hands were treated by resection of a supernumerary hypoplastic thumb. Radial thumbs were resected in 107 hands and ulnar thumbs in 2 hands. Four hands were treated using a modified Bilhaut procedure. According to a modified Tada's evaluation, the results were evaluated as good in 97 hands, fair in 12 hands, and poor in 4 hands. Patients and/or their parents were satisfied with the results in 100 hands and dissatisfied with the results in 13 hands. The factors that influenced the surgical results were analyzed. The incidence of unsatisfactory results was relatively high in Wassel types 3, 5, and 6 and triphalangeal-type thumb polydactyly. It was higher when the ulnar digit was removed than when the radial digit was removed. The results for those patients treated between 1983 and 1991 were better than for those treated between 1976 and 1982. The type of deformity, type of procedure, and skillfulness of the surgeon were factors in the results after surgery.