Study of Flexion Creases and Ridges Patterns in Patients with Congenital Anomalies of Aplasia and Hypoplasia of Thumb

Abstract

Present study was carried out on 120 hands in which 60 hands were anomalous having aplasia and hypoplasia of thumb as cases and 60 hands were normal hands as control were studied. Aim of this study was to find out any ridges abnormalities in anomalous hands as ridges differentiation is closely associated with embryogenesis of limbs. Second aim is to find out any specific association between aplasia and hypoplasia of thumb and formation of thenar crease because of close association between presence of thenar volar pad and thenar crease during development of hand. We evaluated fingertip patterns palmar pattern, position of axial triradius, and type of flexion creases either transverse type, transitional type normal type (having distal, proximal transverse and thenar creases) and presence or absence of thenar crease.Results of this study showed in aplasia of thumb there is increase in frequencies of unknown pattern, absence of axial triradius and absence of thenar crease while in hypoplasia of thumb there is increase in frequencies of arches pattern, shifting of axial triradius distally, some cases showed absence of thenar crease and some caseshaving poorly formed thenarcrease.Conclusion of this study shows development of anomalous hand influences development of epidermis and so ridges pattern and formation of thenar crease associated with presence of thenar volar pad In aplasia of thumb there is absence of thenar volar pad so there is no formation of thenar crease.