OA01.28. Management of post - axial polydactyly by ksharsutra - A minimally invasive Ayurvedic para surgical procedure

PURPOSE: Polydactyly is a most common congenital hand defect in which the hand has one or more extra fingers, commonly seen post axial i.e. on the small finger side, affecting about one out of every 1,000 babies. It is usually treated by surgically removing the extra finger typically, when the child is between 1 and 2 years old. Prognosis after removal of extra digit is good, though not devoid of complications like scar formation, instability and late deformity which may need additional reconstructive surgery to recover full function and improve the hand's appearance. The evidence of polydactyly is linked with superstitions related with divine phenomenon. Due to the myth and fear of complications, parents hesitate or are reluctant to opt for surgery. METHOD: In this study, Ksharsutra, an Ayurvedic medicated thread coated with herbal alkaline drugs having simultaneous cutting and healing property was used by free ligation technique to remove extra finger in a child, whose parents were not willing to undergo surgery. This was an observational single case design without controlled group. RESULT: After Ksharsutra ligation, the extra finger started necrosing within 24 hours. The finger turned bluish to black in next 3 days with minimal pain at the site of ligation and finally sloughed out in just nine days with minimal scar formation. CONCLUSION: Ksahrsutra Ligation showed excellent result in postaxial polydactyly. The results are encouraging enough to warrant more studies to establish and promote this unique para surgical procedure i.e. Ksharsutra in the management of postaxial Polydactyly.