Thumb duplication, 66 years' experience--a review of surgical complications

Fifty-four supernumerary thumbs excisions were followed for an average of 9 years for results of their surgical management, which consisted of simple excision (16 patients), reconstructive procedures (33 patients), or central wedge resections (5 patients). Half of all simple excisions and reconstructive procedures gave unacceptable results, most were salvaged. These were primarily joint deviations, joint instabilities, and bony prominences. All of our central wedge resections gave unacceptable results that were not salvageable--short, stiff, fat thumbs with nail deformities. We feel this procedure should probably be reserved for cases where both digits of the supernumerary thumbs are severely hypoplastic.