Polysyndactyly accompanied by brachydactyly: A surgical procedure

In patients manifesting a 5/6 polydactyly of the toes, the fifth toe is generally longer than the sixth toe, but in many cases the overall state of the bone and tendons is usually better in the sixth toe. Therefore, if a decision is reached to amputate the fifth toe, the postoperative difference in length between the fourth and sixth digit can be conspicuous. Also, in many cases the metatarsus is normal whereas the phalanx is hypoplastic, and the joint alignment is irregular. However, there is very little available in the literature with regard to toe extension and/or joint correction surgery for such cases, and the authors describe their surgical methods for transplanting the bone from the extra toe to extend the bone length and correcting the axial deformation of the phalanx, as well as their methods for reconstructing the joint capsule, muscles, and tendons in such patients. From April 1990 to May 1992, the authors have used their surgical methods for treating polysyndactyly in a total of 5 patients. Their age at the time of surgery ranged from one year to six years and two months, with the age being three years and seven months, and their post surgical follow-up period ranged from four to thirty months, with the average period being twenty-two months. Bone growth progressed normally, x-ray visualization confirmed that the corrected joints showed no deformities, and the final results were judged as being satisfactory.