Abstract

Background: The bone length of paediatric patients varies with respect to normal individuals. Patients were mainly affected with congenital autopod anomalies such as brachydactyly, syndactyly, and polydactyly. Brachydactyly with short bones are further divided into different types: Brachydactyly A, brachydactyly B, brachydactyly C, brachydactyly D, and brachydactyly E. Aim: This study aims to classify the types of brachydactyly by measuring metacarpophalangeal profile patients: A radiometric study Objectives: Classify the types of brachydactyly patients and compare them with the controls based on X-rays of hands. Material: A cross-sectional study was conducted on the children at a tertiary care center from July 2020 to March 2024. Metacarpal and phalangeal lengths of little, ring, middle, index, and thumb fingers on X-ray films of patients and controls were measured by digimatic calipers. The recorded data were analysed by SPSS version 26 and Graph Pad Prisma 8.2. Result: We found highly significant p values in ratios of phalangeal lengths 2P:3P, 2P:4P, 2P:5P, 2L:3L, 2L:4L, 2L: 5L ( P; Proximal phalanx length , L: middle phalanx length). This predicted abnormal or short/missing proximal, middle, and distal phalanges of individuals with brachydactyly type A. We found highly significant p values in ratios of (MC: Metacarpal length) 2MC: 3MC, 2MC:4MC, 2MC:5MC, and 2P:4P in brachydactyly type E.  Conclusion: This predicted short 3rd, 4th, 5th metacarpals and 4th proximal phalanges in comparison to controls. Thus, X-ray analysis is the gold standard tool for evaluating the different types of brachydactyly. The research emphasizes the importance of hand anthropometry in understanding anatomical changes and the diversity of brachydactyly.

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