The incidence and pattern of supernumerary digital flexion creases amongst the population of Ekpoma in Edo, Nigeria

Abstract

This study on the incidence of supernumerary digital flexion crease was carried out among undergraduate students in the faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria.  434 palms from 217 students (mean age 21.93 ± 2.15 years) were examined. 134 (61.75%) were males, while 83 (38.28%) were females. The results showed that 18 (1 in 12; 8.34ut0%) subjects presented supernumerary digital flexion crease in at least one finger on either left or right palm. The observed incidence was also, more prevalent among the males than the females (ratio 5:3); on the left (24.23%) than the right palm (18.89%); and on the ring finger (77.7%) for left palm, but on the middle and index fingers (33.33% each) for right palm. Thus the reported incidence of supernumerary flexion creases calls for further research considering its association with clinical syndromes/anomalies.

Keywords: Supernumerary, Digital flexion crease, Palmar-skin, Clinical syndromes.