This baby was 8 months old at the time. The left hand had type V polydactyly. After birth, doctors at the local hospital suggested waiting until the child was 2–3 years old before performing surgery.
Initial consultation
However, the parents happened to see our educational videos and learned that many polydactyly surgeries can be performed as early as 6 months of age, so they decided not to wait any longer.
In fact, the family had already been mentally prepared for their baby's hand deformity. The baby's father was also born with polydactyly. When the baby was born, the mother noticed the nurses quietly discussing something with the doctor, so she directly asked: "Does the baby have an extra finger?"
On the father's side of the family, he was the only person with this condition. They never expected it would be passed on to their child. Although they felt sad at first, the parents quickly adjusted their mindset and decided to help their baby solve the problem as soon as possible.
Regarding polydactyly surgery, although it can often be performed between 6–8 months of age, it is not an emergency or time-limited surgery.
Therefore, parents should not feel pressured or blame themselves for "missing the best time for treatment."
Initial consultation
Type V polydactyly has a relatively complex structure. In some cases, it can also affect the posture and function of the thumb. After returning home from the consultation, the parents patiently waited for the surgery date and tried to avoid taking the baby outdoors too often, mainly because they were worried that catching a cold could delay the operation.
Preoperative X-ray
Since the father had undergone polydactyly surgery himself before, and it had not affected his normal life for many years, the family was not overly anxious about the operation. Their only wish was to remove the extra finger and give their baby a better hand function as soon as possible.
However, when the day of surgery finally arrived, watching their baby being taken into the operating room, the mother, who had remained calm until then, could no longer hold back her emotions and burst into tears.
Because they lived far away from Wuhan and could not take long leave from work, the mother learned how to perform wound dressing changes by herself. She said she practiced many times while following our videos.
Initial consultation
At the 4-month postoperative follow-up, the parents' efforts had already started to show results. The baby could move both hands independently, and the overall recovery was very good.
The scar on the baby's left thumb was already becoming almost invisible. The mother said the old nail had fallen off and grown into a new one.
Through playing with grasping toys, it was clear that the baby's joint movement was developing well, and most daily movements could already be completed. The baby also no longer cried during the process, showing that they had gradually adapted to functional training at home.
Before and after surgery comparison
However, this was only the first follow-up visit. The baby still has plenty of room for further improvement. In addition to daily functional exercises, wearing splints, and applying scar treatment medication, parents can also continue guiding the baby's grasping posture.We believe that in the future, this baby will be able to learn and accomplish even more activities.
139 days after surgery
In fact, polydactyly is not as "frightening" as many parents imagine. Parents should avoid excessive anxiety or self-blame. The most important thing is to adjust their mindset, set a clear goal, and actively help their child receive proper treatment.
139 days after surgery