Polydactyly of the foot.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Pediatric Surgery
• Medical Genetics

Background:

• Supernumerary toes, or polydactyly, represent a common congenital anomaly.
• Understanding the anatomical patterns and surgical outcomes is crucial for effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the anatomical patterns of supernumerary toes.
• To evaluate the long-term surgical outcomes of polydactyly correction.
• To identify factors associated with successful and unsuccessful surgical results.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 125 patients with 194 supernumerary toes.
• Classification of polydactyly based on location and anatomical pattern.
• Assessment of surgical outcomes at an average follow-up of 15.1 years.

Main Results:

• Postaxial polydactyly comprised 79% of cases.
• Proximal phalanx duplication with metatarsal anomalies was the most frequent pattern.
• 94% of patients achieved excellent or good outcomes after surgery.
• Preaxial duplications and hallux varus were linked to poorer results.
• Central duplications often led to a persistently wide forefoot.

Conclusions:

• Surgical correction of polydactyly yields high success rates.
• Individualized surgical approaches are necessary.
• Preoperative radiologic assessment is mandatory for optimal planning.
• Specific technical considerations can improve surgical outcomes.