The trident hand refers to the three-pronged appearance of the second, third
and fourth digits of the hand when the fingers are fully extended.
- The fingers and hands are
short (secondary to shortening of the proximal phalanges, midphalanges and
metacarpals).
- All the digits are the same
lengths.
- The third and fourth fingers
cannot be approximated.
The digits require observation between the fingers in various positions of
flexion and extension.
- Found in chondrodysplasias
especially achondroplasia.
- Guzman ER, Day-Salvatore D,
Westover T et.al. Prenatal ultrasonographic demonstration of the trident hand
in heterozygous achondroplasia. J Ultrasound Med 1994;13:63-66.