title: Treatment of the triphalangeal thumb.
abstract: The triphalangeal thumb is a rare congenital malformation, but not as rare as the literature would imply. Forty-two patients with 68 triphalangeal thumbs, represent an incidence of about 3 per cent of a population of upper extremity abnormalities. Although little is written about the details of treatment, surgery is frequently necessary. Age makes a great difference as to hom the extra phalanx should be treated. The associated abnormalities present major surgical problems that must be treated early.
mesh_terms: D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D013933:Thumb / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery