A Boy with 31 Fingers and Toes: A Story from China
A young boy in China, born with 31 fingers and toes due to a genetic condition known as polydactyly, underwent his first of three surgeries at eight months old to remove the extra digits. This condition occurs in about one in every 700 births.
Image of Hong Hong, the Chinese child born with 31 fingers and toes.Hong Hong, born in China, has an astonishing 31 fingers and toes—15 fingers and 16 toes—to be exact. Born in Hunan Province, this remarkable birth feature includes two palms on each hand, yet no thumbs.
At birth, doctors diagnosed Hong Hong with polydactyly, a genetic condition found in humans, dogs, and cats, resulting in extra digits. Occurring in about one in every 700 births, this anomaly is even mentioned in the Bible. Often, these extra fingers and toes are surgically removed, and in Hong Hong's case, his family worked to raise funds for the required surgery.
The child’s mother also has polydactyly, born with six fingers and toes. During her pregnancy, she worried her child might inherit the same condition. Upon his birth, she sought advice on managing her son's unique situation.
Doctors offered various recommendations, noting that the surgery would be more complicated than anticipated. Hong Hong's condition necessitated not only the removal of the extra digits but also the reconstruction of his thumbs. Opposable thumbs are crucial as they enable humans to grasp objects effectively.
At eight months old, Hong Hong successfully completed his first of three surgeries to eliminate the surplus digits. Just a few years prior, a similar surgery was performed on a six-year-old child who, like Hong Hong, was born with 31 fingers and toes.
