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What is pollicization surgery?

Pollicization surgery is performed when your child has no thumb or when the thumb hypoplasia is more severe. The operation involves creating a functional thumb by transferring another finger (usually the index) to the thumb position.

If the thumb is completely missing, index pollicization surgery moves the index finger into the thumb position. The index finger is separated at the growth plate, a section of the finger is removed from the hand, and the remaining finger is relocated to w

This may seem drastic because an index finger is being sacrificed. However, since thumb function is crucial to overall hand function, having a three-fingered hand with a thumb will enable your child to have considerably better hand function than a four-fingered hand with no thumb.

Surgeons and parents sometimes find that a hand with one thumb and three fingers can actually be quite acceptable in appearance. This operation has an excellent track record and its results are reliable. In cases where the index finger is normal and functional, a very good thumb results.

The decision to undergo this procedure depends heavily on the condition of your child's index finger. If the index finger cannot move independently or has other problems, your child's doctor may not recommend pollicization.

Practitioners Who Specialize In This Condition

Benjamin Gundlach, MD

Benjamin Gundlach, MD

Orthopedic Surgeon, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Department
Instructor of Orthopedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School
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