Symphalangism
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View Henry Knipe's current disclosuresAt the time the article was last revised Ashesh Ishwarlal Ranchod had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Ashesh Ishwarlal Ranchod's current disclosures- Symphalangisms
- Symphalangistic interphalangeal joints
- Symphalangist interphalangeal joints
Symphalangism refers to ankylosis or synostosis of the interphalangeal joints (i.e. fusion of the phalanges) in either the toes or the fingers. Less commonly, the metacarpophalangeal joints may be affected.
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Epidemiology
One study reports symphalangism of the fifth toe in ~55% (range 40-75%) of the population. It less commonly affects the fourth (~5%) and third toes (~1%) in descending incidence 1.
Associations
Symphalangism may also be associated with many conditions including 2:
acrocephalosyndactyly (Apert syndrome)
Clinical presentation
Stiffness, lack of volar skin folds and reduced range of motion may be present 3. More often, it is an incidental finding on radiographs.
Pathology
Symphalangism is most commonly seen as an isolated anatomical variant as a fusion of the middle and distal phalanges in the 5th toe 1.
Historical and etymology
Symphalangism was first coined by American neurosurgeon Harvey Cushing in 1916 4.
References
- 1. Nakashima T, Hojo T, Suzuki K et-al. Symphalangism (two phalanges) in the digits of the Japanese foot. Ann. Anat. 1995;177 (3): 275-8. doi:10.1016/S0940-9602(11)80199-8 - Pubmed citation
- 2. Ortiz D. Reeder and Felson's gamuts in radiology. Praeger. ISBN:0313312168. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 3. Baek GH, Lee HJ. Classification and surgical treatment of symphalangism in interphalangeal joints of the hand. Clin Orthop Surg. 2012;4 (1): 58-65. doi:10.4055/cios.2012.4.1.58 - Free text at pubmed - Pubmed citation
- 4. Cushing H. Hereditary Anchylosis of the Proximal Phalan-Geal Joints (Symphalangism). Genetics. 1916;1(1):90-106. doi:10.1093/genetics/1.1.90 - Pubmed
Incoming Links
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