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A boy has been born in Hunan, China, with 31 fingers and toes, a condition known as polydactylism.
The poor parents of the baby, named Honghong, are seeking help because the surgery to correct polydactyly would cost thousands of dollars and would be very difficult.
Polydactyly is a family trait and if one parent has the condition there is a 50 per cent chance the child will also be born with the condition.
Hong Hong’s mother has six fingers on each hand and six fingers on each foot.
According to local media reports, the boy’s parents were concerned about the child inheriting the condition and had a number of pre-natal scans in an attempt to identify it. However, a four-dimensional ultra-sound did not highlight any problems.
Hong Hong, from Pingjiang County in Hunan province, was born with 15 fingers, two palms and no thumbs on each hand, and fifteen toes.
Polydactyly is believed to affect as many as two in every 1,000 people in China, according to the American journal of Orthopedics, with most instances being dealt with at birth. However, Hong Hong’s condition is unusually severe and so this was not possible.
Although it is thought the extra digits can potentially be treated, the surgery is expensive and could prove difficult since he also requires thumbs to be constructed. According to CNN, surgery for the boy could cost 200,000 Chinese Yuan – more than $30,000.
Hong Hong’s parents initially turned to the internet for help, raising over 40,000 Yuan – or $6,000 – through donations alone.
But they reportedly stopped the crowdfunding due to the mixed comments they were received.
Hong Hong is still too young for the surgery, and it is not known what will happen to him or whether he will be able to have the treatment he needs.
For now, the family are heading to the city of Shenzhen so Hong Hong’s father can return to work.
Agencies/Canadajournal
