How can the extra little finger be corrected?
Traditionally, these extra little fingers were ‘tied off’ after birth so that the blood supply was cut off and the finger eventually died and fell off. At GOSH, we do not recommend this for a variety of reasons. Firstly, this can be very painful as the extra finger has a nerve supply. Secondly, if the tie slips the extra little finger can bleed a great deal as there is a large blood vessel supplying it. Thirdly, this method can lead to infection and lastly, it leaves an unsightly bump that can be painful in later life as the nerve is trapped within it. The Hand Surgery team at GOSH recommends that the extra little finger(s) be removed in a short operation. This type of operation may not be offered by your local hospital. If your child is older than three months, we recommend that the operation is carried out under a general anaesthetic, as he or she is likely to be very lively and unable to stay still. If this is the case, we will book a clinic appointment to discuss the operation furt
