Girl born with 14 fingers undergoes life-changing surgery to correct the defect

A girl born with 14 fingers has undergone a life-changing operation to correct the birth defect. 

The unidentified three-year-old, from China, had two extra thumb-like appendages on each hand.

Local reports state the defect has been observed in members of the girl's family going back five generations.

The unidentified three-year-old, from China, had two extra thumb-like appendages on each hand (pictured before surgery)

The unidentified three-year-old, from China, had two extra thumb-like appendages on each hand (pictured before surgery)

Local reports state the defect has been observed in members of the girl's family going back five generations (her right hand after surgery)

Local reports state the defect has been observed in members of the girl's family going back five generations (her right hand after surgery)

However, the poverty-stricken family was reportedly too poor to ever seek medical treatment to rid her of her extra fingers (her right hand is pictured after surgery)

However, the poverty-stricken family was reportedly too poor to ever seek medical treatment to rid her of her extra fingers (her right hand is pictured after surgery)

Her left hand pictured on a scan before surgery

Her right hand pictured on a scan before surgery

She was treated at the Central Hospital of Shenyang Medical College, in the north-eastern province of Liaoning (scans show her hands before surgery)

Medics promised the procedure would not affect the child’s development, and would preserve both the function and aesthetics of her hands (pictured before surgery)

Medics promised the procedure would not affect the child’s development, and would preserve both the function and aesthetics of her hands (pictured before surgery)

However, the poverty-stricken family was reportedly too poor to ever seek medical treatment to rid her of her extra fingers. 

It is unclear whether the family were offered free treatment in the end.  

She was treated at the Central Hospital of Shenyang Medical College, in the north-eastern province of Liaoning. 

Medics promised the procedure would not affect the child’s development, and would preserve both the function and aesthetics of her hands.

Hand surgery specialist Dr Zhan Jie, who operated on her, said: 'The girl had two extra fingers on each hand - quite a rare patient.

'The surgery was complicated by the fact that the fingers we wanted to keep and those we wanted to remove weren’t clear and obvious.' 

The girl's left hand is pictured before surgery, with marks for where medics should make cuts

The girl's right hand is pictured before surgery, with marks for where medics should make cuts

Hand surgery specialist Dr Zhan Jie, who operated on her, said: 'The girl had two extra fingers on each hand - quite a rare patient'

As well as removing the extra digits, the medics also straightened her thumbs and redirected the bone growth with the help of metal rods (pictured, iron rods in her right thumb)

As well as removing the extra digits, the medics also straightened her thumbs and redirected the bone growth with the help of metal rods (pictured, iron rods in her right thumb)

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