title: Ulnar polydactyly - an analysis of appearance and postoperative outcome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ulnar polydactylies present with a wide variation in the size and appearance of the affected finger, ranging from small cutaneous appendages to fully formed additional fingers. Since ulnar polydactyly is rarely associated with functional disabilities, psychological and cosmetic reasons are the main rationale for surgical treatment. The aim of this study was to present the appearance, treatment regimen, and outcome of a series of children treated with ulnar polydactylies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data of all pediatric patients treated between 2000 and 2010 were included. For assessing long-term outcome, patients were contacted via mail and asked to complete a questionnaire concerning location and appearance of the scar as well as functional and cosmetic satisfaction (VAS 0-100).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In that period, 32 patients (20 male, 12 female) with 53 ulnar polydactylies were treated. In 20 patients the polydactyly occurred bilaterally (63%), in 10 patients on the left side (31%), and 2 patients presented with right-sided ulnar polydactyly (6%). The vast majority of ulnar polydactylies were floating cutaneous appendages. The mean age of the patients at operation was 8.6 months (range 0 to 10 years). 20 patients (63%) responded to the postal questionnaire. Follow-up time was 4.9 years (range 2.1 to 10 years). The majority of patients reported a flat scar (n=18, 90%). Mean overall satisfaction with the postoperative result using a VAS 0-100 score was 89.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We were able to report a good postoperative outcome of a series of patients suffering from ulnar polydactylies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria. Electronic address: georg.singer@medunigraz.at.
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Singer
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thein
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kraus
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Petnehazy
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Eberl
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003714:Denervation / Q000379:methods; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000294:innervation / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006227:Hand Deformities, Acquired / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009463:Neuroma / Q000517:prevention & control; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D017689:Polydactyly / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Malformation hand; Outcome; Ulnar polydactyly