Extra Fingers or Toes:The occurrence of an additional finger or toe, known as a sixth digit, is quite common. This condition is referred to as hexadactyly, a term that translates to "six digits." In medical terminology, hexadactyly does not distinguish between fingers and toes, although the Greek word "dactylos" specifically means finger.The extra digit can appear in three possible locations: on either side of the extremity or somewhere in the middle. For instance, on a hand, the additional finger might be located beyond the little finger (known as ulnar hexadactyly), beyond the thumb (radial hexadactyly), or between two normal fingers (intercalary hexadactyly). The most prevalent type of hexadactyly is ulnar (postaxial) hexadactyly, followed by radial (preaxial) hexadactyly, with intercalary hexadactyly being the least common.Hexadactyly is often harmless and can be easily corrected, especially when it is an isolated finding and the baby is otherwise healthy. For example, a small extra digit on the ulnar side can be simply removed by tying it off.However, hexadactyly can sometimes be part of a broader set of malformations, requiring more in-depth examination. Some ultrasound scans can detect hexadactyly. In one case, an ultrasound revealed a rudimentary sixth digit on both hands. A more detailed scan confirmed the extra digit on the ulnar side of each hand as a small, floppy skin tag, with no other physical abnormalities observed. A subsequent high-resolution ultrasound identified a rudimentary digit or skin tag between the fourth and fifth digits, again without any other abnormalities.There is a wide range of disorders that can cause hexadactyly, but many are ruled out when no other malformations are present. If the extra digit were intercalary, the list of potential conditions would be shorter, including disorders like Pallister-Hall syndrome and Greig syndrome, which typically have other distinguishing features. The final diagnosis in this case is still pending. This scenario illustrates the challenges that can arise when hexadactyly is detected before birth.Hexadactyly is the most common form of polydactyly, a condition that includes all instances of extra digits, regardless of the total number in a given case.
