Positive metacarpal sign

Last revised by Mohammadtaghi Niknejad ◉ on 17 Aug 2021

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Gaillard F, Niknejad M, El-Feky M, et al. Positive metacarpal sign. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 23 Mar 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-1666

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-1666

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/1666

rID:

1666

Article created:

2 May 2008, Frank Gaillard ◉ ◈

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Frank Gaillard had no recorded disclosures.

View Frank Gaillard's current disclosures

Last revised:

17 Aug 2021, Mohammadtaghi Niknejad ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Mohammadtaghi Niknejad had no recorded disclosures.

View Mohammadtaghi Niknejad's current disclosures

Revisions:

18 times, by 8 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Musculoskeletal

Sections:

Signs

Tags:

musculoskeletal, signs, metacarpal, hand

Synonyms:

4th metacarpal bone sign
Metacarpal sign

In the metacarpal sign, a line drawn along the heads of the 4^th and 5^th metacarpals will intersect the head of the 3^rd metacarpal if shortening is present. The shortened 4^th metacarpal is the key to the sign.

The sign is positive in up to 9.6% of normal individuals ³. It is however seen in a variety of conditions.

For a gamut of this sign see: short 4^th/5^th metacarpal.