Single Transverse Palmar Crease

What Is Single Transverse Palmar Crease?

Single transverse palmar crease (STPC) is a condition where one side of your face or hands are shorter than the other. It affects 1 in every 10,000 children born with two copies of the gene for short stature. The average age when it occurs is between 3 and 5 years old, but it can occur at any time during childhood. STPC is most common in boys, but it can affect girls too.

The affected child’s bones do not grow evenly throughout their body. Their arms and legs may appear longer than their head because the arm bone grows first while the leg bone continues growing later. This causes them to look like they have extra fingers or toes on some parts of their bodies.

Children with STPC often have problems walking due to having long limbs compared to their height. They may also experience difficulty climbing stairs. Some children develop facial features such as a small mouth, big eyes, small nose and/or protruding teeth.

Children with STPC are usually diagnosed after physical examination. If there is no obvious cause for the abnormality, then genetic testing is done to see if there is another chromosome mutation causing the problem. The current treatment plan is bone lengthening up to 3 years after the identification of the problem.

After this period, the child’s bone should have extended to a normal length.

What Is Simian Crease?

A simian crease (also called Palmaris brevis) is a thickening or fold at the base of the palm. It is thought to be present in around 1 in 25 people (2.5%). A transverse crease across the palm is a normal finding in most people, however, a simian crease is considered to be any additional thickening or folding at the base of the palm.

What is the difference between Simian Crease and Single Transverse Palmar Crease?

A single palmar crease is where the hand has only one transverse crease across it, which is known as a primary crease. A second crease running across the hand that splits the first one is known as a secondary crease. A simian crease is where there is a third fold in the palm running either side of the base of the fingers.

What is the difference between Simian Crease and Congenital Central Palmine Nerve Palsy?

A congenital central palmine nerve palsy (CCPP) is a condition where the palm of the hand does not develop correctly during pregnancy. There are three types:

Incomplete palmar creases

Complete palmar creases that do not reach the base of the fingers

Palmar creases that extend around the finger tips

What is the difference between Simian Crease and Down Syndrome?

Down Syndrome (also known as Trisomy 21) is a genetic condition that causes a number of physical abnormalities in people who have an extra copy of chromosome 21. It affects around 1 in 700 pregnancies. Around 1 in 100 people born with Down Syndrome have a simian line on their palm (this is also known as a ‘Mongol Line’).

What is the difference between Simian Crease and Swimmers Palms?

Swimmers Palms (also known as ‘Rocker Palms’ or ‘Prayer Palms’) are where the skin at the base of the fingers are folded under themselves. This gives the impression that the fingers are floating over the surface of the hand. They are sometimes known as ‘Rocker Palms’ due to their resemblance to a rockers hand gesture. They are sometimes known as ‘Prayer Palms’ due to their resemblance to a person in prayer holding hands together.

What is the difference between Simian Crease and Beaded Palms?

Beaded Palms (also known as ‘Centipede Palms’ or ‘Spider Palms’) are where there are small groves across the base of the palm that give it a beaded appearance. They are sometimes known as ‘Centipede Palms’ due to their resemblance to a centipede. They are sometimes known as ‘Spider Palms’ due to their resemblance to a spider.

What is the difference between Simian Crease and Fish Palms?

Fish Palms (also known as ‘Parrot Palms’ or ‘Mitten Palms’) are where the skin at the base of the fingers appears to have little webs creating a fish-like appearance. They are sometimes known as ‘Parrot Palms’ due to their resemblance to a parrots foot. They are sometimes known as ‘Mitten Palms’ due to their resemblance to a mitten.

What is the difference between Simian Crease and Peach Fuzz Palms?

Peach Fuzz Palms (also known as ‘Turtle Neck Palms’) are where there are little spikes of hair at the base of the fingers. They are most noticeable on light skinned people who don’t usually have much hair on their arms. They are sometimes known as ‘Turtle Neck Palms’ due to their resemblance to a turtle neck jumper.

What is the difference between Simian Crease and Loose Skin Palms?

Loose skin palms (also known as ‘Mushroom Palms’) are where there is excess skin on the hands creating a ‘baggy’ appearance at the base of the fingers. They are also known as ‘Mushroom Palms’ due to their resemblance to mushroom stem.

What is the difference between Simian Crease and Long Fingers?

Long Fingers are where the middle finger is longer than the index finger in a persons hand. The index finger can also be longer than the ring finger in some cases (this is rare). Having long fingers is completely natural and not something you can ‘catch’ like a cold. It is believed to be a genetic trait.

What is the difference between Simian Crease and Straight Thumbs?

Straight thumbs (also known as ‘Hitchhiker Thumbs’ or ‘Idiot Thumbs’) are where the thumbs are naturally bent backwards towards the hand. They are also known as ‘Hitchhiker Thumbs’ due to a myth that people who have this trait always hitchhike and are murdered while travelling. They are also known as ‘Idiot Thumbs’ due to a myth that people who have this trait are idiots.

What is the difference between Simian Crease and Knuckle Fingers?

Knuckle Fingers (also known as ‘Mushroom Fingers’ or ‘Bunny Ears’) are where the tips of the fingers are rounded and spread out. They are also known as ‘Mushroom Fingers’ due to their resemblance to a mushroom. They are also known as ‘Bunny Ears’ due to their resemblance to a rabbits ears.

What is the difference between Simian Crease and Stubby Thumbs?

Stubby thumbs (also known as ‘Trouser Thumbs’ or ‘Mittens’) are where the thumb is shorter than normal and appears to be clenched in a fist. They are also known as ‘Trouser Thumbs’ due to a myth that people who have this trait always wear trousers. They are also known as ‘Mittens’ due to their resemblance to a mitten.

What is the difference between Simian Crease and Stretched Thumbs?

Stretched Thumbs (also known as ‘Goat Foot Thumbs’ or ‘Goose Feet’) are where the thumbs are longer than normal and appear to be more humped. They are also known as ‘Goat Foot Thumbs’ due to a myth that people who have this trait always have goats. They are also known as ‘Goose Feet’ due to their resemblance to a geese foot.

What is the difference between Simian Crease and Wart Fingers?

Wart Fingers (also known as ‘Toad Spots’ or ‘Mushroom Spots’) are where small warts appear on the tips of the fingers. They are also known as ‘Toad Spots’ due to their resemblance to a toad. They are also known as ‘Mushroom Spots’ due to their resemblance to a mushroom.

What is the difference between Simian Crease and Tripod Fingers?

Tripod Fingers (also known as ‘Caterpillar Fingers’ or ‘Butterfly Fingers’) are where the fingers are shorter than normal and have a extra joint. They are also known as ‘Caterpillar Fingers’ due to a myth that people who have this trait look like they have worms crawling on them. They are also known as ‘Butterfly Fingers’ due to their resemblance to a butterflys wings.

What is the difference between Simian Crease and Long Thumbs?

Long Thumbs (also known as ‘Octopus Thumbs’ or ‘Squid Tentacles’) are where the thumbs are longer than normal and have a extra joint. They are also known as ‘Octopus Thumbs’ due to a myth that people who have this trait always wear shirts with octopuses on them. They are also known as ‘Squid Tentacles’ due to a myth that people who have this trait come from underwater civilizations.

What is the difference between Simian Crease and Angle Thumbs?

Angle Thumbs (also known as ‘Wolf Claws’ or ‘Cat Claws’) are where the thumb is bent and twisted at a 90 degree angle at the top joint. They are also known as ‘Wolf Claws’ due to a myth that people who have this trait look like they have wolf claws. They are also known as ‘Cat Claws’ due to their resemblance to a cats claw.

What is the difference between Simian Crease and Open H-Crease?

Open H-Crease (known as ‘Swan Neck’ or ‘Ducks Foot’) are where the little finger is longer than normal and has a extra joint. They are also known as ‘Swan Neck’ due to a myth that people who have this trait have a long swan neck. They are also known as ‘Ducks Foot’ due to their resemblance to a ducks foot.

What is the difference between Simian Crease and Open F-Crease?

Open F-Crease (known as ‘Swan Neck’ or ‘Duck Foot’) are where the ring finger is longer than normal and has a extra joint.

Sources & references used in this article:

The genesis and significance of digital and palmar band creases: preliminary report by GA Popich, DW Smith – The Journal of Pediatrics, 1970 – Elsevier

Prenatal detection of simian crease. by P Jeanty – Journal of ultrasound in medicine, 1990 – Wiley Online Library

Variation in palmar creases by M Alter – American Journal of Diseases of Children, 1970 – jamanetwork.com

Clinical Review: The Single Palmar Crease and its Clinical Significance in a Child Development Clinic: Observations and Correlations by CF Johnson, E Opitz – Clinical pediatrics, 1971 – journals.sagepub.com

The single transverse palmar crease in infants and children by PADV Smallpeice – Developmental Medicine & Child …, 1963 – Wiley Online Library