wassel type iii polydactyly

Abstract

Preaxial polydactyly, which refers to the duplication of the first digital ray, sporadically occurs in 8 per 100,000 births among African and Caucasian populations. It develops as the result of the failure of the hand plate differentiation in the radial-ulnar axis, and is mostly unilateral. Preaxial polydactyly is only a cosmetic disturbance rather than being a functional deficiency in most cases, and in general, good outcomes which are maintained over time are obtained from surgical treatment. Wassel described seven types of preaxial polydactyly according to the level of the bifurcation. The most common type is reported to be Wassel type IV, followed by types II and VII. Here in, a rather rare case of Wassel type III polydactyly which was detected in an asymptomatic young man is presented. Keywords: Wassel classification, Thumb duplication, Preaxial polydactyly