Korean Job Discussion Forums

poet13 · Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 5:55 pm Post subject: Stubby thumbs.....

Ok, I've been in country on and off for about 4 years.
I've been in many other countries for many years too and I haven't seen the following with the prevalence that I see it here.
I did a searchand couldn't find anything, so I will call it "stubby thumbs".
It seems that the last two thumb bones (the distal and proximal phalanges) are shorter than nomal for the persons hand, with the distal phalange (last bone) having a wide, but very short nail.
It seems also that in some cases, the metacarpals are progressively longer from the baby finger to the first finger, so that when the person makes a fist, the fist is not "square", rather, it comes to a point with the first knuckle. Yes, all our hands do that, but I mean to an exagerated degree.
Is there a term for that?
I'm guessing it's genetic, but also curious if there's some dietary possibility.

Anyone?

Young FRANKenstein · Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 11:41 pm Post subject: Re: Stubby thumbs.....

dogbert · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Location: Killbox 90210

I've wondered about this phenomenon for years, but have not been able to find anything online about it.

I can't help but think it must be something in the Korean genome. I have not seen it in people of other races, has anyone else?

I've also seen two Koreans who each had one normal thumb and one stubby thumb. That was bizarre.

dogbert · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Location: Killbox 90210

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=OMIM&dopt=Detailed&tmpl=dispomimTemplate&list_uids=113200

swetepete · Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Location: a limp little burg

It clearly results from giving too many dong-chims as a child.

ariellowen · Joined: 19 Apr 2006

I've noticed this too. I'd guess it's as common as five percent. I brought it up to my (foreign) co-workers last month to blank stares. Thanks to the above posters for normalizing 'checking out' people's thumbs. There seems to be a few other unique thumb features on locals; in particular: at the joint of the Proximal Phalanx and the Metacarpal --this joint can bend "backwards" (laterally on the transverse plane (?)) or rather "tuck" into the hand.

HapKi · Joined: 10 Dec 2004 Location: TALL BUILDING-SEOUL

It's funny this thread was brought up. I do Korean traditional archery, which requires the use of a thumb ring when drawing the bow. We all compare rings, the calouses that form on our hands, etc..and I'll be darned, being the only foreigner, I've got the longest, skinniest thumb out of everyone.

HapKi · Joined: 10 Dec 2004 Location: TALL BUILDING-SEOUL

Comparing Neanderthal with modern humans-

poet13 · Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007 12:27 am Post subject:

Just came back from camp. Took the time to check out all the kids thumbs. Incidence of 7.5%. All cases, both thumbs. In one case, the childs last thumb joints were not only short and wide, but the joint itself seemed to extend to points. The more I see it, the more curious I am. I don't think I would have the nerve to ask a Korean about it though, unless they were in a related field, and i don't know anyone.
I know for some kinds of genetic thumb deformities, those that reduce functionality, there are surgeries usually performed during infancy. I wouldn't consider stubby thumbs as being any kind of disability though.

Canucksaram · Joined: 29 Apr 2003

Check out this entry at Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clubbed_thumb

poet13 · Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007 1:30 am Post subject:

From wikepedia..."Clubbed thumbs were historically thought of as a sign of royalty. "

F*CK! First, they invent four seasons, now 5+% of the population is somehow superior to the rest of the world.