What does 6 fingers on a hand mean? Mutant people

In the course of evolution we have handy tool for the most various actions- a hand with five fingers. True, this scheme does not always work: some people are born with six or more fingers: such a genetic failure is called polydactyly. But let's imagine that each of us got one extra finger on each hand. How would this affect our lives, science, and the course of history?

Why do we only have 5 fingers?

Mark Shangizi, head of the laboratory for studying the properties of human perception during research institute in the state of Idaho, USA, he is convinced that people could not have an extra finger, since it not only violates the symmetry of the hand, but also contradicts the theory he developed. The so-called "law of finiteness" explains the five-digit number of fingers using a simple mathematical formula derived from rules for the number of nodes in computer networks. This formula substantiates the optimal number of limbs a body needs to communicate with the outside world based on its size.

So, with very long limbs, their ideal number is six - this principle is used by insects. Very short limbs require even more “support points” - that’s why caterpillars and centipedes outdid all other representatives of the animal world. As for a person, he needs fingers that can provide advantages in grasping objects and fine motor skills, which at the same time correspond to the size of the palm and do not lose too much heat. But if we naturally had six fingers, they would be thinner, which means weaker, and they would freeze faster in the cold season. So the optimal number of fingers for a human hand turns out to be five.

What are the advantages of the 6th finger?

Some animals - for example, the panda - have an additional process in the form of a thumb. It is actually an elongated wrist bone that herbivorous bears use for support when grasping bamboo. But a person can also have “extra” fingers: according to statistics, one Caucasian baby out of every 3,000 newborns is born with six fingers, and in Africa this figure increases another 100 times. There are so many six-fingered people in India that law enforcement agencies They keep records on the basis of “six-fingeredness” along with other special signs. The “record holder” of polydactyly is the Indian boy Akshat Saxen, who has 34 fingers: 7 fingers on each hand and 10 toes on each foot.

Where does the extra finger come from? Typically, it is a duplication of one of the wrist bones - just imagine what a toy slingshot looks like. Naturally, if the thumb or little finger is doubled, then the “duplicate” does not fit on the palm and, as it were, “looks” to the side. In developed countries, this defect is most often eliminated surgically, since these extra fingers do not add either aesthetics or convenience. But there is also mirror polydactyly: in this case, the thumb and index finger do not develop at all, and the other three duplicate each other. This palm looks neater, but does not have all the usual capabilities.

It would be a completely different matter if we received a full-fledged sixth finger as a gift from evolution. For example, an additional little finger would allow a person to play musical instruments and type texts more masterfully, catch objects with greater dexterity and hold them more tightly - this could provide additional advantages to athletes. But fine motor skills Our hand depends mainly on the thumb and index finger - so for performing various tasks an additional little finger would not play a decisive role. But any of the additional fingers, having its own nerve endings and biofield, would become a projection of certain organs and systems of the body, as well as a “guardian” of certain human qualities. Thus, our five fingers are responsible for will, leadership, self-realization, love and creativity. Perhaps the sixth would be responsible for the “sixth sense”? And, of course, a manicure would cost us 20% more.

Futurists are of the opinion that with the current way of life, humanity will soon lose the ring finger and little finger, and will make do with only three really important fingers. However, this is just a theory for now.

Fingers and math

What could be simpler than the decimal number system? The whole world today counts in tens, and this seems completely natural to us: we, for example, can multiply any number by ten simply by adding an extra zero to it. But what if zero denotes not the number 10, but, say, 12? Then the numbers would be: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A (our 10), B (our 11) - and then 10 (our 12). Then we could just as easily multiply by 12 by adding a zero. Such a system would be more convenient from a mathematical point of view - after all, 10 is divisible only by 2 and 5, but 12 is a multiple of 2, 3, and 4.

In fact, the decimal number system is relatively young: in ancient civilizations, the 12-digit counting system was widely used. It arose in ancient Sumer based on the number of phalanges of the fingers on the hand when counting them thumb the same hand. Some peoples of Nigeria and Tibet still use the duodecimal number system. We inherited a lot from this system: the number of hours in a day and months in a year, the zodiac circle and 12 notes in the musical scale. The same goes for European system measures: 1 English penny = 1/12 shilling, 1 inch = 1/12 foot, etc.

But in European civilization, it was customary to consider not the phalanges of the four fingers as the fifth, but to bend the fingers themselves - and so, obviously, the decimal number system was born. The transition back to the duodecimal number system has been repeatedly proposed by European scientists - but the main argument against this has always been the inevitable confusion during the transition and huge costs. However, sometimes other counting systems are used - two, four, eight and even hexadecimal.

If a person had six fingers on each hand, he would, by analogy, first have to deal with the 15-ary number system, and then bet on the 12-ary number system. This would have profound consequences for the development of the exact sciences and culture as a whole. And, shaking hands with friends, we would never hear a joyful “Hey, high five!”

– deformation of a limb, characterized by the presence of additional fingers on the hands or feet. With polydactyly, the child has additional normally developed fingers or their vestigial appendages on the arms or legs; syndactyly and brachydactyly often occur. Diagnosis of polydactyly is based on a visual examination of the limb, X-ray data of the bones and fingers of the hand/toe, and the results of genetic counseling. Treatment for polydactyly involves surgical removal of the extra digits, using skin, tendon, or bone grafting if necessary.

ICD-10

Q69

General information

Polydactyly is an anatomical anomaly representing a congenital increase in the number of fingers or toes from six-fingered to multi-fingered. Information about the frequency of polydactyly in the population is contradictory: according to different authors, polydactyly occurs in 1 out of 630-3300 newborns; The sex ratio is the same. Polydactyly can manifest itself in pure form or combined with other congenital anomalies of the musculoskeletal system - hip dysplasia, brachydactyly, syndactyly, flexion contractures of the fingers, etc.

Polydactyly impairs the function of the limbs, limits physical development, negatively affects the child’s psyche, accompanied by the need to wear orthopedic shoes, limits the choice of profession. The medical solution to the problem of polydactyly is provided by orthopedics and genetics.

Causes of polydactyly

One of the causes of polydactyly is heredity. Familial cases of polydactyly are transmitted in an autosomal dominant manner with incomplete penetrance, i.e. the father or mother are carriers of the polydactyly gene, but they can be healthy. The chance of children inheriting polydactyly is 50%.

In some cases, polydactyly may be one of the symptoms of complex chromosomal disorders (Patau syndrome) and gene syndromes (Meckel syndrome, Ellis-Van Creveld, Lawrence-Moon-Barde-Biedl syndrome, etc.). In genetics, there are about 120 syndromes accompanied by polydactyly.

The causes of isolated polydactyly have not been precisely established. It is assumed that this congenital deformity occurs at 5-8 weeks of embryogenesis and is caused by an increase in the number of mesodermal cells.

Classification of polydactyly

Based on localization, they distinguish between radial (preaxial), central and ulnar (postaxial) polydactyly. With radial localization of the defect, doubling of the segments of the first finger occurs; with the central one - 2-4 fingers; with ulnar – duplication of the 5th finger.

According to the type of duplication, 3 types of polydactyly are distinguished: 1 - the presence of additional vestigial fingers consisting of skin; 2 – the presence of additional fingers, which are a bifurcation of the main ones; 3 – the presence of full, normal shape and size of additional fingers. An important classification feature is the presence or absence of deformation of the main finger in polydactyly, since surgical tactics will depend on this.

Polydactyly is most often found on the hands, although an increase in the number of toes is possible, as well as a combination of polydactyly on the hands and feet. According to observations, unilateral polydactyly predominates over bilateral (65% and 35%, respectively); right-sided - approximately 2 times higher than left-sided.

Symptoms of polydactyly

The main sign of polydactyly is the presence of extra fingers on the hands or feet. In this case, additional fingers can be of normal size and structure or represent rudimentary appendages. In most cases, the accessory fingers are small in size and have a reduced number of phalanges; They are often completely devoid of a bone base and represent non-functioning soft tissue formations on a skin stalk. Sometimes doubling of only the nail phalanx occurs.

In addition to an increase in the number of fingers, with polydactyly there is deformation of the osteoarticular apparatus of the affected segments, which progresses with age and contributes to the development of secondary deformations and static-dynamic disorders.

With chondroectodermal dysplasia (Ellis-Van Creveld syndrome), polydactyly is combined with symmetrical shortening of the limbs, short stature, chest deformation, congenital heart defects (atrial septal defect, single atrium, ventricular septal defect, aortic stenosis), clubfoot, etc.

In the structure of Lawrence-Bardet-Moon-Biedl syndrome, along with polydactyly, mental retardation, obesity, retinitis pigmentosa, underdevelopment of sexual characteristics, syndactyly, and cranial deformation are noted.

Children with Patau syndrome (trisomy 13) have multiple developmental defects: microcephaly, myelomeningocele, microphthalmia, corneal opacity, auricular deformation, cleft lip and palate, polydactyly, oligophrenia, defects internal organs(heart, blood vessels, spleen, pancreas, kidneys).

Diagnosis of polydactyly

Diagnosis of polydactyly is carried out on the basis of clinical, radiological, electrophysiological, biomechanical, genetic and other research methods.

Clinical diagnosis of polydactyly involves examining the child by a pediatric orthopedic traumatologist, identifying anatomical and functional disorders, and determining the type of deformity. In addition to an orthopedist, a child with polydactyly should be examined by a medical geneticist and a pediatrician.

An X-ray examination consists of performing an X-ray of the hand or X-ray of the foot and assessing the anatomical relationships of the osteoarticular apparatus. To identify and assess the condition of bone, cartilage and soft tissue structures, MRI of the hand or foot is indicated.

Of additional importance in the examination are electrophysiological diagnostic methods (electromyography, rheovasography), which make it possible to determine the condition of the muscles and regional blood flow in polydactyly. Biomechanical studies (stabilography, podography) are aimed at determining the static load on the limbs with polydactyly foot.

Genetic diagnostics includes genealogical analysis, establishing the type of inheritance, predicting the risk of having a child with polydactyly in a given family. For polydactyly associated with chromosomal and gene syndromes, prenatal diagnosis (obstetric ultrasound, amniocentesis or chorionic villus biopsy with fetal karyotyping) is of particular importance. If the fetus has isolated polydactyly, pregnancy is prolonged; If a severe chromosomal pathology is detected, the question of artificial termination of pregnancy is raised.

Treatment of polydactyly

Polydactyly is treated only surgically. If the additional finger is connected to the main one only with the help of a skin membrane, its removal is carried out in the first months of the child’s life. In all other cases, it is advisable to postpone surgical intervention until the age of 1 year.

Options for surgical correction of polydactyly, depending on the type of deformity, can be different: removal of an additional segment (finger) without surgery on the main finger; removal of an additional segment (finger) with corrective osteotomy of the main finger; removal of an additional segment (finger) with skin, tendon or bone grafting.

Rehabilitation activities in the postoperative period include exercise therapy, physiotherapeutic procedures (magnetic therapy, infrared irradiation), massage.

Forecast and prevention of polydactyly

Isolated polydactyly in most cases can be successfully cured surgically. The best functional and cosmetic results are achieved when surgery is performed at an early age. In polydactyly associated with genetic or chromosomal abnormalities, the prognosis is determined by the severity of the underlying syndrome.

Prevention of polydactyly involves medical and genetic counseling of couples whose families have inherited cases of polydactyly; careful pregnancy planning and exclusion of any possible adverse effects in the first trimester of fetal development. Prevention of postoperative relapses and complications consists in choosing the optimal method of surgical correction and carrying out full rehabilitation. After surgery, children should be monitored by a pediatric orthopedist until the end of the period of intensive growth of the hand and foot (14-15 years).

Polydactyly is a congenital pathology characterized by the presence of a sixth finger on the hands or feet. In the vast majority of situations, the little finger or thumb is doubled. Currently, the factors causing such a pathology remain unknown, but clinicians believe that one of the reasons may be heredity and the negative impact of various sources on the body of a pregnant woman.

Polyfingeredness is characterized by the presence of an additional finger, which can be either full-fledged or present as a skin process that does not have the ability to function normally.

The doctor will be able to make the correct diagnosis already at the stage of the initial examination of the patient, however, to clarify the type of illness and determine treatment tactics, instrumental examinations of the patient will be required. Treatment is based on surgery.

The International Classification of Diseases of the Tenth Meeting allocates a separate meaning for such pathology. The ICD-10 code is Q 69.

Etiology

Polydactyly is considered a fairly common disease, as it is diagnosed in one baby per 1–5 thousand newborns. As for the prevalence among boys and girls, this pathology occurs equally in both sexes.

Despite the fact that the pathogenesis and predisposing factors for the appearance of such a disease are unknown, clinicians believe that the most likely cause of polyfingered hands or feet is a genetic predisposition.

Transmission of this disease is carried out according to an autosomal dominant type with partial tolerance. This means that one of the parents is the carrier of the mutation gene, but at the same time he will be completely healthy. The probability of a hereditary factor reaches 50%.

Some experts believe that the causes of polydactyly are hidden in the course of completely different diseases. In such cases, the congenital anomaly will be a clinical sign of one of the following ailments:

• – this is a severe chromosomal disorder;
• Meckel's disease;
• Ellis-Van Creveld syndrome;
• Lawrence-Moon-Bardet-Biedl disease.

In general, genetics knows more than a hundred syndromes that can be accompanied by polydactylism.

In addition, the possibility of the disease occurring due to an irrational pregnancy cannot be ruled out. This should include:

• the occurrence of a serious illness of an infectious nature during the period of bearing a child;
• the expectant mother's addiction to bad habits;
• unfavourable conditions work or residence;
• drug abuse;
• the effect of radiation on the body.

It is assumed that such reasons influence the occurrence of this anomaly at approximately the eighth week of intrauterine development of the fetus, when the laying of the fetus occurs. bone tissue. In this case, most likely, there is a significant increase in the number of mesodermal cells.

Classification

Polydactyly of the foot or hand, depending on the location of the defect, can be:

• preaxial– characterized by doubling of the thumb of the upper or lower limb;
• central– is considered a rare form, since two to four fingers are subject to deformation;
• postaxial– differs in duplication of the fifth finger. Postaxial polydactyly, along with preaxial polydactyly, is the most common form of the disease.

Classification of polydactyly by form implies the division of the disease into several types:

• first– the sixth finger is considered a rudiment, because it is only a skin process;
• second– pathology, as a consequence, bifurcation of the main finger;
• third– the extra segment is fully functional, has its own bone and tendon.

The most common diagnosis is multifingered hands, but split toes cannot be ruled out. In some cases, a combination of polyfingered upper and lower limbs.

According to clinicians, unilateral pathology, in terms of diagnosis frequency, prevails over bilateral polydactyly - the approximate ratio is 65 and 35%. Deformation of the right side is observed twice as often as the left.

Symptoms

The fundamental clinical manifestation of the disease is the presence of additional segments in the child’s arms or legs. In this case, the accessory segments can be completely normal in size and function or act as a non-functioning appendage.

Often, extra fingers are characterized by:

• small in size compared to healthy fingers of the upper or lower limb;
• reduced number of phalanges;
• the absence of a bone or tendon base - quite rarely the extra finger will be full. Often this is a non-functioning soft tissue formation on a skin pedicle;
• double nail phalanx – observed extremely rarely.

In addition to an excess number of fingers, with such a pathology there is deformation of the osteoarticular apparatus. Such a disorder will progress the older a person gets, which will contribute to the occurrence of deformities and various secondary disorders.

Polyfingeredness is often accompanied by:

• shortening of the affected limb;
• short stature;
• excess body weight;
• deformation of the sternum or skull;
• retinitis pigmentosa;
• underdevelopment of the genital organs;
• syndactyly;
• flexion contractures of the fingers;
• corneal clouding;
• disruption of the functioning of internal organs, in particular of cardio-vascular system and gastrointestinal tract organs;
• microphthalmia;
• distortion of the ears;
• or ;
• mental retardation.

Diagnostics

Despite the fact that such a developmental anomaly is diagnosed immediately after the baby is born, instrumental examination data is needed to establish the type of polyfingeredness.

Initially, the clinician needs to independently carry out an initial examination, which can be carried out:

• pediatric traumatologist-orthopedist;
• pediatrician;
• pediatric surgeon.

Thus, the first stage of diagnostic measures includes:

• studying the medical history and life history of not only the little patient, but also his parents;
• a thorough physical examination;
• consultation with a genetics specialist - this is necessary to exclude or confirm the influence of genetic or chromosomal abnormalities.

Laboratory tests of blood, urine and feces in the presence of such a disease have no diagnostic value.

Instrumental examinations involve the following:

• radiography and MRI of the upper or lower extremities;
• electromyography – to assess regional blood flow;
• rheovasography - to determine the condition of the muscles;
• stabilography;
• Podography – necessary to determine the load on the affected leg or arm.

Since there is a high probability of hereditary predisposition, genetic diagnosis may include:

• genealogical analysis;
• clarification of the nature of inheritance.

If such an anomaly is associated with chromosomal or gene disorders, then prenatal diagnostic measures come to the fore, involving the implementation of:

• obstetric ultrasound;
• amniocentesis;
• Chorionic villus biopsy – for fetal karyotyping.

If an isolated anomaly is detected during the period of gestation, the pregnancy is not terminated, however, in case of severe chromosomal abnormalities, the issue of termination of pregnancy is decided on an individual basis.

Treatment

Elimination of such congenital polyfingeredness is carried out only with the help of medical intervention.

If the extra finger is attached to the main ones only soft tissues, then an operation aimed at eliminating it can be performed in the first few months of the baby’s life. In other cases, the optimal age for surgical treatment of polydactyly is one year or older.

Surgical correction of pathology can be carried out in several ways, namely:

• removal of an extra finger without involving the main finger in the operation;
• excision of the accessory segment followed by corrective osteotomy of the main finger;
• excision of an extra finger with skin, tendon or bone grafting.

• completing a therapeutic massage course;
• physiotherapy, in particular magnetic therapy and exposure to infrared radiation on the operated area.

Prevention

To specific preventive measures that reduce the likelihood of the formation of such a pathology include:

• rational management of pregnancy, especially in the first trimester;
• regular visits to an obstetrician-gynecologist;
• consultations with a genetic specialist - indicated for those couples in whose family there have been cases of polydactyly diagnosed;
• pregnancy planning.

Forecast

Isolated pathology has a favorable prognosis and is completely curable with surgical intervention. However, with combined polydactyly, the outcome will be dictated by the underlying disease.

Children who have undergone surgery to eliminate polydactyly must be monitored by a pediatric orthopedic doctor until they reach the age of fifteen. This is due to the fact that at this age the intensive growth of the body ends, and the likelihood of deformation is reduced to zero.

Polydactyly is a congenital pathology of the development of fingers, which is expressed in an increase in their number. It is most often seen on the hands, but can also affect the toes, or both the upper and lower extremities.

As a rule, this anatomical defect is inherited as a dominant trait in polydactyly in one of the parents. It is not life-threatening, but can cause psychological trauma, impair limb function, as well as slow down physical development and limit the choice of profession in the future.

According to statistics, polydactyly occurs with equal frequency in boys and girls. According to various sources, it is observed in one in 660-3300 infants and can be combined with other hereditary disorders of the musculoskeletal system, such as syndactelia, brachydactyly and joint dysplasia.

Causes of polydactyly

The etiology of the development of polydactyly is not well understood, but genetic predisposition is considered the main cause. The probability of inheriting the anomaly is 50%, since the dominant trait of polydactyly is characterized by a low degree of penetrance. Thus, a carrier of the gene can have a healthy child.

According to some versions, pathology can occur in the embryo at 5-8 weeks of development due to an uneven increase in the number of mesodermal cells. In addition, sometimes this is just one of the symptoms of serious gene or chromosomal disorders. Medicine knows about 120 syndromes that can be accompanied by polydactyly, among which are:

• Rubinstein-Taybee syndrome;
• Carpenter's syndrome;
• Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome;
• Lawrence-Moon-Biedl syndrome;
• Chondroectodermal dysplasia;
• Trisomy 13;
• Thoracic dystrophy with asphyxia.

Often it is not possible to determine the exact cause of the appearance of extra fingers.

Classification of polydactyly

Polydactyly is classified according to the location and type of duplication. Depending on which fingers are duplicated, three types of anomalies are distinguished:

• Preaxial (radial) – thumb;
• Central - index, middle and ring;
• Postaxial (ulnar) – little finger.

Extra fingers, both on the hands and feet, can form different ways, on which their quality characteristics and functionality depend. Depending on the type of doubling that took place, they can represent the following formations:

• Rudiment. Consists of soft tissue, without bones. Supported by a skin stalk. Non-functional;
• Split main finger. Formed as a result of duplication of the corresponding metacarpal or metatarsal bone. Almost always underdeveloped and has fewer phalanges;
• Full finger. Has normal size and shape.

With polydactyly, deformation of bones and joints is often observed at the site of the lesion, which can progress over time and lead to secondary changes in the osteoarticular apparatus.

Diagnosis of pathology

Diagnosis of polydactyly is carried out using clinical, genetic, radiological, biomechanical and other research methods. A clinical examination of the child is carried out by a pediatrician, orthopedist and geneticist in order to identify functional and anatomical developmental disorders, as well as to establish the type of inheritance of polydactyly. An X-ray of the affected hand or foot must be taken to assess the condition of the joint and bone apparatus. If it is necessary to examine cartilaginous structures and soft tissues, magnetic resonance imaging is performed. Additional methods, such as stabilography and electromyography, can complement the results obtained.

Genetic analysis is aimed at predicting the likelihood of a given couple having a child with an anatomical anomaly. Since the autosomal dominant type of inheritance of polydactyly is most characteristic, for the development of the disease it is enough that the mutant allele is transmitted from one of the parents.

If six-fingeredness is a symptom of a chromosomal or genetic abnormality, then a thorough prenatal diagnosis is necessary, which includes amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling, as well as ultrasound examination. In case of isolated polydactyly, it is recommended to preserve the pregnancy, and in case of chromosomal abnormalities, it is recommended to terminate it.

Treatment of polydactyly

Treatment of polydactyly is carried out exclusively by surgery. If the extra fingers consist of soft tissue, they are removed in the first months after birth. In other cases, surgical intervention is resorted to no earlier than a year later. This is necessary in order to study the condition of the main fingers, which is impossible to do in a newborn.

Clinical data indicate that after routine removal of accessory phalanges, recurrent deformity develops in 70% of cases. Therefore, during surgery, the removal of additional phalanges can be combined with correction of the deformation of the main fingers or with their restoration using removed tissue. The duration of the recovery period depends on this. Sometimes it may take several years for hand or foot function to return to normal.

Isolated polydactyly is best treated at an early age. If this pathology is a consequence of a chromosomal or gene syndrome, then the prognosis depends on the severity of the underlying disease.

Prevention of polydactyly consists of genetic consultations during pregnancy planning, and subsequently, prenatal diagnosis.

Video from YouTube on the topic of the article:

The family of 50-year-old Krishna Choudhary from Gaya village in northern India different from all his neighbors and friends. Each of the 25 members of the family has 6 fingers and toes.
Some family members call it a gift from God, some call it a curse. But both of them face a lot of problems due to extra fingers.

There are 25 people in the Choudhari family - and each of them has 24 fingers. Because of this, girls from the Chudhari family cannot get married - potential grooms do not like this strange feature.

Krishna himself was never bothered by his condition, but the difficulties faced by his children upset him.

“My grandfather had 24 fingers,” says Krishna. - My father also has 24 fingers. My brothers, sisters, children and grandchildren have the same story.”

Krishna, who has worked as a daily wage laborer all his life, believes that there is nothing wrong with their family peculiarities. But others think differently. “I’ve never had any problems with extra fingers,” says Krishna. “But they cause a lot of trouble for my children and grandchildren.” Many guys refuse to marry girls from our family after learning about their peculiarities. My daughter has already been abandoned by four suitors as soon as they found out that she had more fingers than others. I don’t know what scares them so much, but I think it’s just terrible.”

Krishna's family is famous throughout the village. They are called that way - “the family with 24 fingers.”

11-year-old Raju Choudhary, 10-year-old Pintu Choudhary, 10-year-old Pawan Choudhary and 14-year-old Sunny Choudhary show off their extra fingers to reporters without embarrassment.

Krishna's daughter-in-law, Sitbiya Choudhary, considers the extra fingers a blessing from God, while the rest of the family views them more as a curse.

“I believe that God blessed our family this way,” says Sitbia. - Otherwise it is impossible to explain why all family members have extra fingers. I think God wants to convey some message to us with this.”

Krishna's only complaint is that it is difficult for him to find comfortable shoes for himself and his children, and therefore they always have to wear flip-flops. “It’s very difficult for us to find shoes,” he complains. - They all fit awkwardly, so we wear flip-flops. We simply have no other choice: we cannot afford to sew shoes to order.”

The Choudhary family has other problems as well. So, it is difficult for boys to study at school - with six fingers it is very inconvenient to hold a pen and pencil. Girls, in turn, cannot count on a good match. One-year-old Manisha Chudhary is the youngest in the family, but her parents are already thinking with concern about what her fate will be like: after all, the girl has inherited a family trait.

Dr. Ayaush Gupta, Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology medical college Patil, in the Indian city of Pune, says: “This condition is called polydactyly, or polydactyly. It is caused by a genetic defect that causes a person to develop extra fingers.”

"Usually, extra fingers don't cause many physical problems," says Dr. Gupta. “But they can cause a lot of psychological suffering. They can be removed surgically, but the operation will be expensive.”