title: Postoperative Growth in Radial Polydactyly: A Clinical Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to evaluate thumb growth after surgical management of a duplicate thumb and investigate its developmental pattern.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared the thumbs and index fingers of 486 normal children (aged 1-18 y) (group A) with 15 children showing radial polydactyly (group B). All duplicate thumbs were treated with excision of the radial thumb and reconstruction of the ulnar thumb. Radiographs of groups A and B were used to compute the thumb-to-index finger length ratio and width ratio, and the thumb-to-index finger phalanx length ratio and phalanx width ratio.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In group A, the length ratio, width ratio, phalanx length ratio, and phalanx width ratio did not change with age, and remained constant in males and females. In group B, after an average follow-up period of 41.0 months, the original findings were also similar to the final ratios. In group B, only the phalanx width ratio was obviously smaller than normal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A permanent developmental stability exists between the thumb and the index finger, even in patients with radial polydactyly. The development of the retained digit is not influenced by the ablation of the extra digit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapeutic IV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand and Plastic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University and The Second Clinical Medical College of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
authors.forename: Long
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand and Plastic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University and The Second Clinical Medical College of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xianyao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand and Plastic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University and The Second Clinical Medical College of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China. Electronic address: weiyanggao@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Weiyang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand and Plastic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University and The Second Clinical Medical College of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand and Plastic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University and The Second Clinical Medical College of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
authors.forename: Zongwei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand and Plastic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University and The Second Clinical Medical College of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoliang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Feng
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006228:Hand Deformities, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D017689:Polydactyly / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D013933:Thumb / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: Catch-up growth; digit ratio; radial polydactyly; thumb