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Living with Postaxial polydactyly type A

A rare limb difference present from birth with an extra, well-formed little finger or toe.

Understanding Postaxial polydactyly type A

Postaxial polydactyly type A is a rare limb difference with a duplicated fifth digit that is well formed and works like a normal finger or toe.

The extra digit is on the little-finger or little-toe side of the hand or foot. It can occur alone or with many other differences. It is seen starting in pregnancy.

Signs & symptoms

GARD doesn't list specific symptoms for this condition yet. It describes this:

  • Extra, well-formed little finger or toe

Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.

Diagnosis

  1. Talk with your doctor

    Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.

  2. See a specialist

    Specialists who may be involved include bone and joint specialists and genetic specialists.

  3. Ask which tests can help

    Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.

Care & treatment

Care team
Bone and joint specialists (orthopedists or orthopedic surgeons); Genetic specialists (geneticists)
Expert care
Ask about multidisciplinary care centers for rare conditions
Treatment
GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
Research
Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.

General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.

Everyday life

Living with a rare condition is easier with support.

  • Connect with rare disease patient organizations for support
  • Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
  • Ask about patient registries that help research
  • Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Bring these questions to your next doctor visit
Is the extra digit alone, or part of a syndrome?
Would genetic testing help our family?
What are the options for treating the extra digit?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startduring Pregnancy
InheritanceAutosomal Recessive

GARD says changes in genes cause this condition but doesn't name a gene. It is autosomal recessive, meaning a child inherits a changed copy of the gene from each parent.

Genetic

Also known as: nonsyndromic postaxial polydactyly type a; papa; postaxial polydactyly type a (disease)

Patient organizations

Rare-disease groups that can help

Source: NIH GARD · Postaxial polydactyly type AGARD ID 16817 · GARD page updated September 2026 · Plain-language summary by Know Rare; editorial review pending. General information, not medical advice.

You are more than your diagnosis

Perspectives from people navigating life with Postaxial polydactyly type A.

Explore the Postaxial polydactyly type A blog

Explore research for Postaxial polydactyly type A

Explore actively recruiting Postaxial polydactyly type A studies with HealthSpark.

HealthSpark

Find actively recruiting studies for Postaxial polydactyly type A with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.

  • Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
  • Share your city to look for research near you
  • Eligibility is confirmed by the study team

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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.

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