Brachydactyly Type D

[JonnyMintz]

Hello,

I will be applying to medical school next year, and I'm hoping to eventually go down the orthopedic surgery route. The only thing, other than future academic obstacles, that could limit me in this area are my hands.

I was born with brachydactyly type D, which means I have much shorter than normal thumbs. I am also not able to bend the tips back, like normal ones do.

I don't believe this will limit me at all getting into med school and doing the normal tasks, but do you guys believe I could do what you do with this limitation.

As far as I know through my research, there is no surgery to correct this.

I would be grateful for any insight. Thank you.

-Jon

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[rigid]

If you can use a drill, hammer, knife and pen then you're fine

 

[JonnyMintz]

If you can use a drill, hammer, knife and pen then you're fine

OK Thanks. I think many of us think that medical school is something that you need above average hand skills for. If you're saying that's all we really need to do, then even people with major hand ailments or injuries could make it.

I'm assuming things may be different in dental school.

 

[Winged Scapula]

OK Thanks. I think many of us think that medical school is something that you need above average hand skills for. If you're saying that's all we really need to do, then even people with major hand ailments or injuries could make it.

I'm assuming things may be different in dental school.

There's a difference between people who develop a major hand injury *after* training and those who have one (or a congenital problem) going into it. You might have to work harder and you may find some instruments are more difficult to use (for example, women have smaller hands and a lot of the stapling devices, especially the early ones, were very difficult for many of us to use). In addition, there are certain procedures which may require more fine motor skills which may or may not be a problem for you.

As always, there are very very few <insert medical malady> which are incompatible with a surgical practice.

 

[JonnyMintz]

There's a difference between people who develop a major hand injury *after* training and those who have one (or a congenital problem) going into it. You might have to work harder and you may find some instruments are more difficult to use (for example, women have smaller hands and a lot of the stapling devices, especially the early ones, were very difficult for many of us to use). In addition, there are certain procedures which may require more fine motor skills which may or may not be a problem for you.

As always, there are very very few <insert medical malady> which are incompatible with a surgical practice.

Thanks for this reply. You make a good point - I've adapted to my situation, so I can learn how to make adjustments to larger instruments.

As to your last statement regarding maladies and surgical practice, is that really true?

 

[Winged Scapula]

Thanks for this reply. You make a good point - I've adapted to my situation, so I can learn how to make adjustments to larger instruments.

As to your last statement regarding maladies and surgical practice, is that really true?

As far as I can see:

- there are surgeons missing fingers and even entire limbs
- there are surgeons who use canes and even wheelchairs (we even have an SDN member who is a surgery resident and has an upright wheelchair)
- there are surgeons with IBD/seizure disorders/who are color blind/with personality disorders ; ) etc

Short of being blind and a few other problems, you're likely to find *someone* who has succeeded as a surgeon. Whether that's you, remains to be seen.

What's more important is whether you can show up on time, do the job asked of you, follow up on things, are honest and ethical. As we say, you an teach a monkey to operate.

 

[dynx]

First off wrong mindset for surgery in general and orthopedic surgery in particular. You should be wondering how other people manage to be as awsome as you with their stupid long thumbs. Work on that.
Second: how short are we talking here? Like nubs? Are the thumbs on your gloves going to be flopping around getting in the way?

 

[JonnyMintz]

First off wrong mindset for surgery in general and orthopedic surgery in particular. You should be wondering how other people manage to be as awsome as you with their stupid long thumbs. Work on that.
Second: how short are we talking here? Like nubs? Are the thumbs on your gloves going to be flopping around getting in the way?

Thanks for the encouragement!

In terms of length, the proximal phalanx is maybe slight smaller than average, and the distal phalanx is about half the normal size, so not nubs. I can bend the joint inward, but not outward, and when I try to stretch my fingers out, it appears as if it's about half the normal size.

Whenever I wear gloves, I can usually pull them down pretty tightly so there isn't much slack. The more people I speak to about this, the less anxiety I feel. I may not be able to handle some instruments as well as others, but med school in general shouldn't pose many major problems for me. Just some modification here and there. This will probably rule out some residencies in the future, but thats thinking way too far ahead.