Our son was born with Macrodactyl in his pointer finger and middle finger on his left hand. He had surgery when he was a year old to destroy the growth plates in the middle finger to stop the growth as it was as long as my husbands middle finger. Over the past few years it has gotten bigger around and is now the diameter of a golf ball. He is only 5 years old. We doctor at Shriner's Hospital for Children. We were just at his doctors on Wednesday and they suggest amputation. His bones that go from the bottom of the finger to the palm on both fingers have grown so much that they are pushing his ring finger and middle finger away. He never uses the 2 large ones unless he is trying to open something, but other than that, he pulls them back and uses his others. So really he is already compensating for not having them, but I just hate to see him have to adjust for himself and have to have all his friends in school readjust, too. He started preschool this past year and everyone was used to him. He begins kindergarten in the fall. I was looking for thoughts of when we should do the surgery. They said we can do this year, next year, or later. They definitely have to take the middle finger off, but they said we might be able to keep the pointer finger for now. I just wonder if we leave the pointer finger, is there a chance a year or so from now, that they would have to do another surgery and take it off? If so, I would rather do it all at once so he doesn't have to adapt again. Another question is, will he have to have reconstructive surgery every so many years because he is still growing? Any input will be very helpful.
Connections » Dr. Wint: Finger, Hand and Wrist
Son has macrodactyl and needs surgery...
(2 posts)
Total votes: 1
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luvable42002
MemberPosted 11 months ago # -
Dr. Wint
ModeratorAn amputation or in most cases what is called a ray resection where the index finger and the metacarpal in the palm is patially removed or fully removed along with thickened or enlarged soft tissue is a common treatment for macrodactyly that involves the index finger. The index finger that you describe is often stiff, large and gets in the way of promoting better function. Usually kids and families are happier after the surgery. and immediatley feel that a burtden has been removed form the hand. Whehter it is the indecx alone, teh index and middle or the middle typically further reconstructive surgeyr is not needed.
Posted 10 months ago #
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