Index finger longer than middle finger

[Mark_210]

I wasn't sure where to post this as it's not really a problem or concern but this seems like the best place.

I was born with my index finger longer than my middle finger on both hands and, obviously, it's been that way ever since. No one in my family ever noticed anything wrong with my hands and I didn't realize they weren't normal until a friend pointed it out when I was about 12.

I went to a doctor around that time (12 or 13) and was told that two bones in my middle two fingers (middle and ring) were shorter than they should be resulting in my index finger being the longest and causing my hands to appear as though they have no knuckles except the ones behind my index finger and pinkie.

I was told the only thing I had to worry about was easily breaking a knuckle if I ever got into a fight because all the impact of a punch would be on the two outer knuckles. When asked if he'd ever seen it before the doctor gave a very unconvincing yes and basically sent us on our way, informing us that this wasn't even documented in the book he took out.

I've never had a problem with my hands or anything like that but I can't find anything about this condition/situation or whatever you want to call it anywhere.

I guess my main question is has anyone ever heard about this or met someone whose hands were like this or anything? How rare is this? Are there any documented cases? Any information would be appreciated

[HeatherRedStouffer]

Don't judge I couldn't find anything else for a nickname.:)
My hands are like that but the weird thing is that they used to be normal. Good thing I'm not one to fight.

[forzagirl]

Hi Priya:  I know your post was a long time ago, but I was recently searching on the internet to see if other people had this situation since I have the identidal situation.  No doctor was ever able to tell me what was wrong.  One said genetics and one said it was a problem while in the womb as my parents were in a car accident.  Maybe that was meant to make me feel better.  I just wish I understood it more.  Thanks so much and please let me know your thoughts.

[westcoastgirl2]

OMG OMG!

I am not the only one!!  I have the index finger longer than the other three in both of my hands.  So I only have a visible knuckle on my index fingers. I have pictures of my kindergarden graduation (age 5) and the middle finger is longer than the rest at that time.  

I just had an xray done in my left hand yesterday (sprain wrist) and the doctor showed me my abnormality (not that I hadn't noticed it BUT doc just made it official lol).  Pretty much metacarpal bones (google it) on the last three fingers of  both of my hands didn't grow normally as it did in the index fingers. They are just short... something happened in our developing years that these matacarpal bones stopped growing early or just not at the same rate.

Go to an orthopedic and do an xray of your hands its so obvious once you see it.. It was an eye opener for me.  Please be happy like we are I am always told that my hands are so cute cause they are small LOL!  We are special and not like the rest of the world peeps.

Doctor did told me that due to this "abnormality"  we are more flexible or are able to bend our hands to the outside more that a normal person so if doing planks or exercising and we loose balance (like what happened to me) we can sprain our wrist easier.  So if you play tennis, gymnastics, yoga, weights anything that put pressure on your hands use wrist support.

Those are my two cents ..hope it helps! :)

[Sabby347]

Omg I have this too. Glad to know im not the only one. I'm definitely going to an ortho now. Thanks for sharing and now I understand why I have so much pain in my wrists and hands.

[LMDB910]

My PEOPLE!!!

My index fingers are the longest fingers on both of my hands, and I only seem to have actual knuckles on my index and pinky fingers.  What causes this?
I do not think I was born like this, and no one noticed it until I was 9.

I love that there are so many of us!!

[Sabby347]

I have this and my story is exactly like yours no one noticed until my friend pointed it out in middle school. I have never talked to a doctor about it and I never met anyone like me. I tried looking it up but can't find anything on it.

[halit]

Hi There.
I am a paediatrician living in İstanbul in Turkey. I am 47 years old. I have the same problem. My index finger in my both hands is longer than my middle finger.I have never seen anyone like me before. Therefore I was very excited when I found this page. As far as I know this entity is seen less than 1/million. I am not sure if there is any cure for this disorder. Lengthining of the bones may be an alternative. Custom made hand prosthesis may be used. İs there a community on the internet about this abnormality.İf so please write to the forum. It is good to see that I am not the only person with this disorder.

[EasyD]

I am honestly amazed to find so many out there that have an identical or similar condition to my own.  In reading these postings it is scary how similar other's stories of discovery and puzzlement mirror my own.  For starters I am 31 years of age and have never had any kind of physical impairment save for the absence of knuckles on each my hands.  Although, that statement is somewhat deceiving considering I have knuckles on each of my index and pinky fingers, however my middle and ring fingers are recessed to the point that they appear hidden.  Thus, when I make a fist you can see knuckles on each of my index and pinky fingers, but there appears to be a gap inbetween on each hand.  I had never noticed this before until middle school while playing a hand slapping game with my classmates.  They pointed it out to me which prompted me to go home to show my parents.  In looking at pictures when I was a younger boy I could see that my hands appeared to be normal and not as they were now with my index finger being the longest, then middle, ring, and pinky.  I was taken to multiple doctors, as well as a genetic expert.  I was diagnosed with psuedo psuedo hypo-thyroidism.  Essentially, I was told that the platelets in the bones inside each of my hands did not receive the proper singles during my growth period to prompt them to grow with me.  Therefore, they were shorter than they otherwise should have been.  I was presented with the option of bone lengthening surgery which I declined to pursue.  This was diagnosed around 16 years ago, and I have lead a completely normal life since.  Although, I have always been curious to see if anyone else has this type of condition, and am constantly looking at other people's hands to see if they have it as well.  I have never seen nor found anyone else who has had this.