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Hexadactyly is a congenital malformation resulting in an extra toe or finger. It can vary in size and functionality, and is usually removed due to aesthetic reasons. Polydactyly is the general term for extra digits, and preaxial polydactyly is extremely rare. Hexadactyly can be a random mutation or linked to other medical conditions, and is usually treated shortly after birth. However, some people choose to keep the extra digits if they are fully functional.
Hexadactyly is a congenital malformation that results in the presence of an extra toe on a hand or foot. This extra figure may vary in size and functionality; sometimes, it’s little more than a skin tag, while in other cases, the foreign cipher is fully functional. Most people surgically remove these extra fingers, although they are usually quite harmless, because extra fingers and toes are seen as aesthetically unpleasant and are subject to superstitious beliefs in some cultures.
When the extra toe appears next to the little finger or toe, it is known as ulnar hexadactyly. This form is by far the most common. Hexadactyly that occurs on the other side of the hand or foot, near the thumb or big toe, is known as radial hexadactyly. Very rarely, the extra finger may grow between the normal fingers and toes, in which case the patient is said to have exact fit interlayers.
When people develop extra digits in general, it’s known as “polydactyly,” a word that literally means “many fingers.” Polydactyly is especially common in some feline communities, and some cats have been documented with up to eight toes on each foot!
When two thumbs grow on one hand, this is known as preaxial polydactyly and is extremely unusual. In some rare cases, people are born with two working thumbs on one hand, which can have interesting implications for manual dexterity.
In many cases, hexadactyly is simply the result of a random mutation. In addition to the extra amount, the patient should have no other problems. In other cases, the condition may be linked to other more serious medical conditions that require more extensive medical attention. As a general rule, parents are alerted to these conditions through prenatal testing. Ultrasounds can also reveal hexadaptyly, in which case parents may choose to perform additional prenatal testing to determine the cause of the abnormal number of fingers and toes.
In most cases, hexadactyly is treated shortly after birth, especially if the extra toe contains no bone. In other cases, parents may choose to leave the hexadactyly intact to allow the child to make a decision about it later, especially if the extra toe appears to be fully functional. While most people see hexadactyly as a “birth defect,” implying that it needs to be corrected, some people prefer to enjoy their six-toed existence.
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