A team of surgeons have successfully removed a sixth digit from a 12-year-old girl born with an extra thumb on her left hand.
The operation took place in Tyumen, Russia, where specialists at the Regional Clinical Hospital No. 2. Performed the surgery, according to a report released on 20th October.
The child had a fully developed extra digit on the radial side of her main thumb.
Her parents had initially been apprehensive about surgical intervention when she was younger but decided to proceed after consulting an orthopaedist.
During the procedure, surgeons removed the additional finger and straightened the main finger, using a pin to fix it in place.
Traumatologist and orthopaedist Igor Suprunov said the operation and recovery period went smoothly.
The girl’s stitches were removed after two weeks. And an X-ray taken about six weeks later confirmed that the thumb is healing perfectly.
Doctors said the pins will soon be removed, after which the girl will begin rehabilitation.
The Tyumen Regional Department of Health reported that around 15 young patients with similar conditions have undergone operations at the same hospital since the start of the year.
To find out more about the author, editor or agency that supplied this story – please click below. Story By: Joseph Golder, Sub-Editor: Marija Stojkoska, Agency: newsX
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