When I discovered that Treasure also had an extra thumb, like me, I looked closely and her “After” Thumb looks far more graceful than mine. Now I have learned there are several types of polydactyly.
- With Simple Polydactyly, the extra digit is just a boneless rudimentary thumb sprout. Easy to fix. Back in the sixties the recommendation was to “Tie it off until it turns black and shrivels.” Now they recommend surgery.
- With Bone-In Polydactyly. each thumb has a full set of bones and joints. Back in the sixties the recommendation was to “Snip it off with a big pair of scissors and put the hand in a cast.” Anyone who’s cut up a chicken with kitchen shears knows it’s hard to cut through a joint. Now they recommend surgery.
- Do-It-Yourself Polydactyly: Popular Mechanics says you Normals can buy yourself an extra thumb, though sadly it is on the wrong side.