Experience with the surgical treatment of radial polydactyly in adults.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to investigate the functional and cosmetic outcome after surgical reconstruction in adult patients.

METHODS

Eleven hands of the 10 adult patients with radial polydactyly were treated surgically. Clinical and radiologic examination was performed and cases were classified according to the Wassel system. The outcome was evaluated according to the Modified Wood criteria.

RESULTS

Average age of the patients was 20 years (range, 19-23 years) and all patients were male. All of the patients were admitted with the social consequences of the cosmetic problems resulting from the anomaly. Cosmetic and functional results were excellent in 9 cases and good in 2 cases.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study revealed that radial polydactyly can be surgically reconstructed satisfactorily in adulthood. However, the fact that these patients were mainly admitted as a result of the psychosocial consequences of the cosmetic aspect of the anomaly, we concluded that regardless of age, surgery should not be delayed after diagnosis.