Ortho

Supernumerary Digit

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Supernumerary Digit

  • Definition
  1. Congenital remnant of digit or Skin Tag
  • Epidemiology
  1. More common in black infants
  2. Inherited trait
  • Signs
  1. Location
    1. Base of metacarpophalangeal joint on hand
    2. Base of metatarsophalangeal joint on foot
    3. Lateral to fifth digit or medial to thumb
  2. Characteristics
    1. Skin Tag-like swelling without bone palpable
    2. Attached to extremity by small pedicle
    3. No voluntary motion
    4. Nail may be present
  • Differential Diagnosis
  1. Polydactyly (true extra-digit with bone palpable)
  • Management
  1. Bone involvement requires plastic surgical management
  2. No signs of true Polydactyly (no bone involvement)
    1. Tie Suture tightly around pedicle
    2. Digit will fall off several days after ligature
  • References
  1. Behrman (2000) Nelson Pediatrics, Saunders, p. 2093
  2. Fuloria (2002) Am Fam Physician 65(2):265-70 [PubMed]