Rudimentary polydactyly: report of five cases.

Rudimentary polydactyly was found in five patients. Surgical exploration of the papules revealed findings that have not been previously published. A cord-like structure arises from the bottom of the papule, with its proximal portion joining the neurovascular bundle of the digit. Histologic examination of the cord showed strong similarity to the neurovascular bundle of a finger. From these findings, we assume that rudimentary polydactyly may represent the amputation stump of pedunculated fingers.