Considering the high incidence of trauma to the adult hand and the resultant large numbers of roentgenograms of adult hands, one would expect that if premature closure of the metacarpal epiphysis was a frequent occurrence as a result of injury to the hand in childhood, roentgenologists would be in a position to cite many case examples similar to the one reported here. A survey of leading roentgenologists in the Cleveland area failed to uncover a similar case.
Because of the apparent rarity of this condition, it is felt that this case report may prove of interest of surgeons dealing with trauma, and that it may spare them the embarrassment of explaining a "short finger" at a later date.