Clinodactyly

What causes clinodactyly?

In many cases, your child’s growth plate in the hand may be an abnormal shape or have an abnormal orientation. Rather than grow perpendicular to the axis of the finger, therefore, these bones may change the direction they grow in, resulting in trapezoidal or triangular shaped bones.

This can cause a shift in the alignment of the finger joints as well.

How common is clinodactyly?

The exact incidence of this condition is unknown, in part because there is no precise definition of what level of curvature is normal and abnormal. It tends to be present more commonly in boys and usually affects the small finger.

It’s unusual to have it on both hands.

Clinodactyly can be an inherited condition and may present as a part of an associated syndrome. A significant percentage of people with Down syndrome, for example, have clinodactyly.