[Surgical treatment of polydactyly]

This clinical lesson addresses the treatment options for polydactyly, emphasizing the lack of consensus in the Netherlands regarding the timing and method of intervention. The study aims to provide evidence-based recommendations for the management of post-axial polydactyly type B. Two cases are presented, each illustrating different approaches to surgical intervention for post-axial polydactyly type B in a 1-year-old boy (Patient A) and a newborn girl (Patient B). Patient A undergoes surgical removal of an extra digit under general anesthesia after waiting for a year, while Patient B undergoes prompt surgical removal under local anesthesia. Both procedures are successful with no complications, demonstrating positive outcomes for early surgical intervention under local anesthesia. The study advocates for revising outdated national guidelines, recommending surgical removal under local anesthesia within the first three months after birth for post-axial polydactyly type B. Delaying intervention increases stress, risks, and costs without apparent benefits. This clinical lesson calls for optimizing care for children with post-axial polydactyly type B through guideline updates.