Management of postaxial polydactyly in the neonatal unit

Postaxial type B polydactyly is the presence of a supernumerary digit attached by soft tissue in a pedunculated fashion to the fifth digit. In the present case, a newborn with bilateral postaxial type B polydactyly underwent suture ligation to remove the supernumerary digit, but multiple ligation attempts were required. Ultimately, residual tissue remained bilaterally, but it did not seem to be painful. A comprehensive review of the literature revealed no clear recommendation on treatment options for patients with postaxial polydactyly. Although suture ligation has been common practice, surgical excision is an acceptable option that can be performed in the neonatal unit and may result in fewer complications than suture ligation.