Time is the best yardstick by which to test a technique!

The recovery of a child with polydactyly, more than five years after surgery…

Polydactyly at about six months of age / More than five years after treatment

Five years after the polydactyly surgery, Lulu's mother sent Dr. Zhang Songjian, Vice President and specialist in hand and foot surgery, an X-ray taken at her local hospital, asking him to review the development of the thumb.

The mother's communication with Dr. Zhang

The first part of the conversation was a routine exchange of questions and answers. Afterwards, the mother also sent over video of Lulu's right thumb in action: the digit moved nimbly, looked aesthetically pleasing, and was perfectly straight. Only on close inspection could the surgical scar be made out — a single, very faint white line.

She then forwarded screenshots of her chat with Lulu's father. What stands out most are the superlatives — "f***ing brilliant" — which appear repeatedly in the exchange.

Feedback: recovery is excellent — "f**ing brilliant"*

Because the thumb had developed so straight, the local doctor asked in puzzlement whether the extra digit had contained no bone at all and had merely been a fleshy lump. When the family explained the details, the doctor said: "This operation was done brilliantly — you can't even see the scar…"

Five years ago, when the child was just over six months old, the polydactyly surgery was successfully performed at Renji Hospital. We also retrieved the condition of Lulu's right thumb at the time of presentation, at six months of age: type 4 polydactyly, in which the bones of the extra digit arise from the metacarpophalangeal joint. This is the most common of the seven types of polydactyly, and also the type most prone to deviation — placing the greatest demands on a surgeon's experience and technical skill.

Lulu's right thumb at presentation, at six months of age

❤ Vice President Zhang Songjian comments:

"For us physicians, Lulu's case is very common and the technique is already well established — it is a routine operation. What impressed us most was the good judgment of Lulu's parents.

They said: 'The child is very young, and although we were extremely worried, we decided to have treatment at six months so as to avoid any impact on her future. We simply wanted to give the finger good conditions for development, so that her psychology would not be affected.'"

In the actions of Lulu's parents we once again truly felt the far-sightedness behind the saying: "A parent's love for a child lies in planning for the long term." And the conversation five years later is ample proof of how wise that decision was.

After consultation, Dr. Zhang developed a microsurgical aesthetic reconstruction plan tailored to Lulu's condition. During the operation, it was necessary not only to completely excise the redundant tissue, but also to make full use of that tissue to restore appearance and reconstruct function, while at the same time correcting the deviated tendons, nerves, and other structures. Only in this way could deviation be avoided after recovery, achieving a more aesthetically pleasing appearance and more nimble function.

Immediately after surgery: microsurgical technique combined with plastic and aesthetic technique to excise redundant tissue, correct deviation, and use the redundant tissue to reconstruct appearance and function

More than five years later (recently), the condition of the hand as sent by the mother ↓↓↓

The thumb more than five years after surgery

Time is the best yardstick by which to test a technique!

In pediatric orthopedics, many children like Lulu get back in touch years later, and we learn that they have recovered ideally — confident, beautiful, and full of sunshine — enjoying carefree childhoods.

—— What we ❤ want to say ——

The "superlatives" that appeared in the chat are the most direct form of praise, and an excitement that could not be contained. What they indirectly reflect is "hardcore" technique — and a child's radiant future…