LONG-TERM RESULTS OF SURGICAL-TREATMENT OF THUMB POLYDACTYLY

One hundred thirteen hands exhibiting thumb polydactyly were treated a nd followed up for an average of 49 months. Of these, 109 hands were t reated by resection of a supernumerary hypoplastic thumb. Radial thumb s were resected in 107 hands and ulnar thumbs in 2 hands. Four hands w ere treated using a modified Bilhaut procedure. According to a modifie d Tada's evaluation, the results were evaluated as good in 97 hands, f air in 12 hands, and poor in 4 hands. Patients and/or their parents we re satisfied with the results in 100 hands and dissatisfied with the r esults in 13 hands. The factors that influenced the surgical results w ere analyzed. The incidence of unsatisfactory results was relatively h igh in Wassel types 3, 5, and 6 and triphalangeal-type thumb polydacty ly. It was higher when the ulnar digit was removed than when the radia l digit was removed. The results for those patients treated between 19 83 and 1991 were better than for those treated between 1976 and 1982. The type of deformity, type of procedure, and skillfulness of the surg eon were factors in the results after surgery.