“At fingers’ ends”: risk factors and perinatal outcome of pregnancies complicated by digital malformations

Objective To identify the incidence, risk factors, and perinatal outcome of newborns with congenital finger or toe (digital) anomalies. Method A retrospective study including all neonates born at a tertiary medical center during 2001–2006 with congenital digital anomalies was conducted. The comparison group consisted of newborns without such anomalies born during the same period. Results Of 115,876 newborns delivered during the study period, 360 (31 per 10,000) were diagnosed with digital anomalies. Polydactyly was the most common diagnosis ( n = 263; 73% of digital anomalies). Associated anomalies in these patients were congenital heart malformations ( n = 93; 25.8% of the newborns with congenital digital anomalies), central nervous system anomalies ( n = 17; 4.7%), and musculoskeletal anomalies ( n = 13; 3.6%). Newborns with congenital digital anomalies were more likely to be males (62.2 vs. 37.8%; P