Surgical Management of Congenital Thumb Anomalies
Summary
Congenital anomalies of the thumb encompass a spectrum of malformations including hypoplasia, duplication (polydactyly), triphalangism and symbrachydactyly. Surgical correction aims to restore stability, alignment, range of motion and cosmesis while minimising morbidity. Classification systems such as Wassel, Rotterdam and Chung inform surgical strategy by describing the level and severity of duplication or deficiency. Common techniques range from simple excision of hypoplastic elements to intricate reconstructive procedures like the Bilhaut–Cloquet fusion, pollicisation of index digits and osteotomy for deformity correction. Age at intervention is critical, with early reconstruction typically yielding superior functional and aesthetic outcomes. Algorithms that integrate anatomical variation, joint alignment and soft-tissue considerations guide decision-making. Outcome measures such as the Tada, JSSH and Rotterdam assessment systems facilitate objective evaluation of stability, mobility and appearance. Advances in preoperative imaging and refined flap designs continue to enhance precision, underlining the global significance of optimised thumb management.
Research from Nature Portfolio
No recent Nature Portfolio content available.
Surgical Management of Congenital Thumb Anomalies publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in surgical management of congenital thumb anomalies across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Bilhaut–Cloquet procedure: Fusion of duplicated distal phalanges to reconstruct a single thumb.
Polydactyly: Presence of one or more extra digits, commonly manifesting as thumb duplication.
Wassel classification: System categorising thumb duplication by level of skeletal bifurcation from distal phalanx to metacarpal.
Pollicisation: Transfer and rotation of the index finger to function as a reconstructed thumb.
Tada score: Composite assessment of functional and cosmetic outcome following thumb reconstruction.
Rotterdam assessment system: Multidomain evaluation tool for appearance, function and patient satisfaction post-surgery.
References
- Experience with Management of Radial Polydactyly: The Multicenter Analysis of 28 Surgical Procedures with Follow-Up. Healthcare (2023).
- Modified Bilhaut–Cloquet procedure for Wassel type III–IV polydactyly. Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research (2024).
- Resection and reconstruction for radial polydactyly Type IV-D in 206 cases: a retrospective clinical analysis. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders (2022).
Turn complex research questions into confident strategic decisions
When you're under pressure to set direction, justify investment, or understand your competitive position, you need more than raw data — you need trusted insights you can act on.
Benchmark your performance against global peers using robust, methodologically sound analysis.
Combine quantitative metrics with qualitative expert insight to uncover strengths, gaps and emerging opportunities.
Gain tailored, decision-ready recommendations aligned to your strategic priorities.
Talk to us to learn more about our data dashboards and bespoke strategy reports.
Grow research skills, confidence and careers with training built for every stage of the research lifecycle.
Developed with Nature Portfolio journal Editors and internationally renowned experts. Discover three ways to learn:
Self-paced, online courses in convenient bite-sized units, covering key skills across scientific writing, publishing, grant writing, data analysis, and more.
Expert trainer-led workshops with hands-on exercises and real-time feedback across core research skills, delivered via interactive group sessions.
Editor-led workshops combining core principles in writing and publishing, personalised 1:1 feedback from Nature Portfolio Editors and hands-on exercises.
Explore course catalogues and workshop agendas, enquire about the options or request institutional pricing.