What Is the Cost of Pollicization Surgery in India?
The cost of pollicization surgery in India typically ranges from $1,500 to $7,000 USD, depending on the hospital, city, and type of procedure.
Pollicization is an operation that creates a thumb from the index finger. It is mainly performed in young children who were born without a working thumb. The cost usually depends on:
- Complexity of the hand difference: including whether other parts of the hand or forearm are affected.
- Anaesthesia for a young child: paediatric anaesthesia and monitoring.
- Casting and splints: a cast for several weeks, followed by a splint.
- Hand therapy: therapy sessions over the following months.
Why Pollicization Is Done
According to the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), pollicization is used for children who lack a functional thumb because it did not develop fully (thumb hypoplasia) or is absent. It can also be considered after an injury.
The thumb is used in most gripping and pinching tasks, so a working thumb can make a large difference to how a child uses the hand. Other options, such as toe-to-thumb transfer, may be considered in some situations.
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WhatsApp UsHow the Surgery Is Done
HSS explains that the index finger is shortened by removing most of its long hand bone (metacarpal). It is then rotated and angled into the position of a thumb. The muscles and tendons are rearranged so they can move the new thumb, and the skin is reshaped to create the web space between the thumb and fingers.
HSS reports that the operation takes under two hours. Surgeons often prefer to operate before a child starts preschool, with a typical minimum age of about 18 months.
Recovery and Therapy
After surgery, the hand is kept in a cast for about four weeks. HSS describes a short period of intensive therapy after the cast is removed, followed by around two months of therapy twice a week, along with a night splint.
Points to discuss with the surgical team include:
- Growth: the new thumb continues to grow with the hand.
- Possible complications: stiffness, a thumb that is longer or shorter than ideal, scarring and infection.
- Rare complications: loss of the new thumb is rare.
- Hand function: the hand has four digits in total after surgery.
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Dr Gaurav Rastogi
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Hand and Wrist SpecialistManipal Hospitals Dwarka, Delhi
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Frequently Asked Questions Related to Pollicization Surgery Cost in India
It is an operation that moves and reshapes the index finger to make a new thumb. It is mainly used in young children born without a working thumb.
It is considered for children who lack a functional thumb because it did not develop fully or is absent. A hand surgeon will assess whether the thumb can be reconstructed or whether pollicization is more suitable.
Surgeons often prefer to operate before preschool. HSS reports a typical minimum age of about 18 months.
HSS reports that the operation takes under two hours. Time under anaesthetic will be longer.
The hand is usually kept in a cast for about four weeks. Therapy begins after the cast is removed.
Yes. HSS describes a short period of intensive therapy, then about two months of therapy twice a week, along with a night splint.
The cost of pollicization surgery in India typically ranges from $1,500 to $7,000 USD, depending on the hospital, city, and type of procedure.
Yes. The new thumb continues to grow as the child's hand grows.
Possible complications include stiffness, a thumb of less-than-ideal length, scarring and infection. Serious complications, such as loss of the new thumb, are rare.
Depending on the hand, alternatives may include reconstructing a small existing thumb or a toe-to-thumb transfer. The surgeon will explain which options apply to your child.
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