BRACHYMESOPHALANGY V IN AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINES

Wrist–hand X‐ray films of 561 Aboriginal children and 46 adults disclosed a number of bony variants, among which brachymesophalangy V was outstanding. The condition may or may not be associated with clinodactyly and/or conical epiphysis. Alternatively, all three may occur in isolation. Brachymesophalangy alone was found in 13·64% of males and 20·74% of females; brachymesophalangy plus clinodactyly was found in 20·13% of males, and 27·42% of females; brachymesophalangy, clinodactyly and conical epiphysis occurred in 20·45% of males and 30·77% of females, but all three traits were found together in only one instance; the total incidence of all three conditions came to 36·36% in males and 42·14% in females. Asymmetry between the two hands was not uncommon.