Minor Hand Defect in Medical School

[JonnyMintz]

Hello Everyone,

This is my first time posting, but I have always enjoyed the conversations.

I am starting to take my final pre-med classes (I'm 30 and had a career in banking) and then apply to medical school - I won't mention my stats, but I believe I am fairly competitive.

I was wondering if anyone on here knew of any concern I should have with a minor defect in my hands. I was born with brachydactyly type D, also known as "clubbed thumb," "toe thumb," or "stub thumb." It's also called "murderer's thumb" online for some reason.

Basically, the top bone of my thumb is much shorter and wider than normal, and I can bend it back like a normal thumb. I realize this is no way an official disability, but it definitely doesn't function like a normal thumb, especially when trying to grab larger objects- I can't really throw a football, and I can't grab a large jar with one hand.

Do you know of any reason why an admission committee would consider this an impediment to become a physician? Have any of you encountered any physicians or other medical students with similar defects?

Any insight would be great!

Thanks!!!!!

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[AlphaBeta<3]

Hello Everyone,

This is my first time posting, but I have always enjoyed the conversations.

I am starting to take my final pre-med classes (I'm 30 and had a career in banking) and then apply to medical school - I won't mention my stats, but I believe I am fairly competitive.

I was wondering if anyone on here knew of any concern I should have with a minor defect in my hands. I was born with brachydactyly type D, also known as "clubbed thumb," "toe thumb," or "stub thumb." It's also called "murderer's thumb" online for some reason.

Basically, the top bone of my thumb is much shorter and wider than normal, and I can bend it back like a normal thumb. I realize this is no way an official disability, but it definitely doesn't function like a normal thumb, especially when trying to grab larger objects- I can't really throw a football, and I can't grab a large jar with one hand.

Do you know of any reason why an admission committee would consider this an impediment to become a physician? Have any of you encountered any physicians or other medical students with similar defects?

Any insight would be great!

Thanks!!!!!

you'll be fine

 

[clippers50fan]

Hello Everyone,

This is my first time posting, but I have always enjoyed the conversations.

I am starting to take my final pre-med classes (I'm 30 and had a career in banking) and then apply to medical school - I won't mention my stats, but I believe I am fairly competitive.

I was wondering if anyone on here knew of any concern I should have with a minor defect in my hands. I was born with brachydactyly type D, also known as "clubbed thumb," "toe thumb," or "stub thumb." It's also called "murderer's thumb" online for some reason.

Basically, the top bone of my thumb is much shorter and wider than normal, and I can bend it back like a normal thumb. I realize this is no way an official disability, but it definitely doesn't function like a normal thumb, especially when trying to grab larger objects- I can't really throw a football, and I can't grab a large jar with one hand.

Do you know of any reason why an admission committee would consider this an impediment to become a physician? Have any of you encountered any physicians or other medical students with similar defects?

Any insight would be great!

Thanks!!!!!

Besides struggling to find someone to love you in spite of your toe thumb, you should be fine professionally.

 

[JonnyMintz]

Besides struggling to find someone to love you in spite of your toe thumb, you should be fine professionally.

Ummm.......Thanks?

 

[DingoPingo]

Ummm.......Thanks?

Just assume he was joking. Not a very funny joke, but otherwise what he said makes no sense.

 

[Goro]

Way back when I was a lab tech at MSKCC, there was woman who was a nephrologist. She had a withered right arm, ending in a tiny hand.

How tiny you ask that?

Like a T-Rex forearm

Hello Everyone,

This is my first time posting, but I have always enjoyed the conversations.

I am starting to take my final pre-med classes (I'm 30 and had a career in banking) and then apply to medical school - I won't mention my stats, but I believe I am fairly competitive.

I was wondering if anyone on here knew of any concern I should have with a minor defect in my hands. I was born with brachydactyly type D, also known as "clubbed thumb," "toe thumb," or "stub thumb." It's also called "murderer's thumb" online for some reason.

Basically, the top bone of my thumb is much shorter and wider than normal, and I can bend it back like a normal thumb. I realize this is no way an official disability, but it definitely doesn't function like a normal thumb, especially when trying to grab larger objects- I can't really throw a football, and I can't grab a large jar with one hand.

Do you know of any reason why an admission committee would consider this an impediment to become a physician? Have any of you encountered any physicians or other medical students with similar defects?

Any insight would be great!

Thanks!!!!!

 

[JonnyMintz]

Interesting, Goro. Did she have to perform any procedures on the patient?

Things like that make me feel like my minor defect is nothing at all. It's just easy to worry about how professors, admissions people, and other students will view you when you're not 100% normal.

 

[JonnyMintz]

Just assume he was joking. Not a very funny joke, but otherwise what he said makes no sense.

Yes, I am assuming he was joking. At 30 years old, I can get over it.

Not sure what compels someone to write something like that though. Really no comedic value, but saying no one will love you because of a messed up finger is deranged.

 

[Nibiru]

Besides struggling to find someone to love you in spite of your toe thumb, you should be fine professionally.

?

 

[NVO]

Is this something you even mention to admins? Seems very minor.

Just found out Megan Fox has clubbed thumb 😱

 

[Nibiru]

Is this something you even mention to admins? Seems very minor.

Just found out Megan Fox has clubbed thumb 😱

😵

 

[caffeinemia]

Hello Everyone,

This is my first time posting, but I have always enjoyed the conversations.

I am starting to take my final pre-med classes (I'm 30 and had a career in banking) and then apply to medical school - I won't mention my stats, but I believe I am fairly competitive.

I was wondering if anyone on here knew of any concern I should have with a minor defect in my hands. I was born with brachydactyly type D, also known as "clubbed thumb," "toe thumb," or "stub thumb." It's also called "murderer's thumb" online for some reason.

Basically, the top bone of my thumb is much shorter and wider than normal, and I can bend it back like a normal thumb. I realize this is no way an official disability, but it definitely doesn't function like a normal thumb, especially when trying to grab larger objects- I can't really throw a football, and I can't grab a large jar with one hand.

Do you know of any reason why an admission committee would consider this an impediment to become a physician? Have any of you encountered any physicians or other medical students with similar defects?

Any insight would be great!

Thanks!!!!!

Only impediment I can see is that you may have a tough time being a surgeon -- ie ortho or neuro, where some of the instruments can be large/unwieldy, unless you learn to adapt. Also, the top bone on your thumb is called the distal phalanx. Might as well start learning the right terminology now, doc.

That said, there's nothing you'll be doing in medical school that should make you anxious...

 

[JonnyMintz]

Only impediment I can see is that you may have a tough time being a surgeon -- ie ortho or neuro, where some of the instruments can be large/unwieldy, unless you learn to adapt. Also, the top bone on your thumb is called the distal phalanx. Might as well start learning the right terminology now, doc.

That said, there's nothing you'll be doing in medical school that should make you anxious...

Thanks Caffeinemia! That gives me some relief. I can do most activities without issues. For example, I can play the guitar, but can't really play the major chords on the A string (have to play everything on E string)- for all those guitarists out there who know what I'm talking about. I can throw a baseball OK, but have trouble getting a good grip on a football and throwing it.

My main worry is a an admissions staff seeing my hands and thinking I won't be able to do something because of it. I figure they like to evaluate all aspects of a person during an interview.

 

[swearonmemum]

Yes, I am assuming he was joking. At 30 years old, I can get over it.

Not sure what compels someone to write something like that though. Really no comedic value, but saying no one will love you because of a messed up finger is deranged.

I interpreted the poster's sarcasm to mean that the idea of someone not loving you merely because of a minor finger defect is as ludicrous as med schools not accepting you because of it.

 

[JonnyMintz]

I interpreted the poster's sarcasm to mean that the idea of someone not loving you merely because of a minor finger defect is as ludicrous as med schools not accepting you because of it.

Hey, you'd be surprised. Women these days are super picky. But you may be right...

 

[Azete]

Our school has a student without any fingers on his left hand and he destroys OMM.

You'll be fine.

 

[redferrari]

I had my hand mauled by a pit bull. Minimal loss of motion, looks a little like a Frankenhand, but no loss of fine motor skills. Everyone told me I'll be fine. Was even asked about it in interviews.

Thank you for starting this thread. I get a little self-conscious about it, but I'm glad to know I'm not the only one 🙂

 

[JonnyMintz]

I had my hand mauled by a pit bull. Minimal loss of motion, looks a little like a Frankenhand, but no loss of fine motor skills. Everyone told me I'll be fine. Was even asked about it in interviews.

Thank you for starting this thread. I get a little self-conscious about it, but I'm glad to know I'm not the only one 🙂

Thanks for sharing. Was your hand something you brought up, or did they notice and ask you about it? I'm self counscious about my thumbs as well, but I realize the less I worry about them the less people notice.

 

[redferrari]

I talked about it in secondaries. It was brought up if it was discussed, because otherwise nobody ever notices if I don't bring attention to it.

 

[Acoustica]

there are surgeons with missing fingers i think you'll be fine

 

[P0ke]

If your thumbs are your biggest concern in the medical school application process, I'm willing to bet that you're a very strong applicant.

 

[bc65]

You'll be fine. See this article:

Less than ten—Surgeons with amputated fingers+ Paul W. Brown, M.D.

http://www.jhandsurg.org/article/S0363-5023(82)80010-5/abstract

You can be surgeon missing fingers. Most of the 183 surgeons cited in this article were missing fingers before starting med school. One was missing a hand.

 

[redferrari]

Again, thank you for starting this thread! It's truly inspiring seeing successful surgeons who have had it worse than me and knowing they still rock it!

 

[Halfmyheart]

USUHS and HPSP scholarships may or may not take you, they are the military's medical school tracks and have a strict medical clearance process before they commission you as an active duty officer. We're held to a higher standard than enlisted people. There are guides online from each branch (Army, Navy, Air Force) that outline disqualification criteria, but the MERB has the final say. That being said, most other schools would not care in the least. It's all about how limited your ROM and strength is.

 

[JonnyMintz]

If your thumbs are your biggest concern in the medical school application process, I'm willing to bet that you're a very strong applicant.

In my mind they are a legitimate concern, but a lot of the feedback I am hearing from everyone makes it seem that it won't hinder me during medical school. It may rule out some surgical specialties for residency, but I realize I shouldn't even be worrying about that now.

I will say, however, that this defect/ ailment has affected my success in past areas. I played baseball during high school, but as we started throwing faster, I just couldn't get as good of the grip and lost my accuracy. Had to give up the sport. I also looked into Navy officer school after college, but was told that this defect disqualified me (weapons handling and overall function wasn't up to par with military standards).

So whenever I embark on something, these memories do come up, and it does lower your confidence in what you can do. Also, the cosmetic aspect is there, no matter how superficial it may be. (Sometimes, all I can notice is how other people have normal thumbs). People especially notice if we shake hands or if I write something in front of them.

As far as I know, there is no corrective surgery for this, so I have to put it past me and move on. I appreciate the article on surgeons who are missing fingers - that really is some amazing stuff.

 

[JonnyMintz]

USUHS and HPSP scholarships may or may not take you, they are the military's medical school tracks and have a strict medical clearance process before they commission you as an active duty officer. We're held to a higher standard than enlisted people. There are guides online from each branch (Army, Navy, Air Force) that outline disqualification criteria, but the MERB has the final say. That being said, most other schools would not care in the least. It's all about how limited your ROM and strength is.

Hello Halfmyheart, I did have a brief experience with the Navy, as I spoke extensively to a recruiter for Officer school after college. When we went over everything medical and physical, he said I met the following standards for finger and hand function:

-Ability to touch tip of thumb to at least 3 other fingers of same hand
-Must have Distal Phalanx of each thumb.
-Ability to clench fist
-Ability to pick up pin (this can be difficult sometimes, but still possible)

Unfortunately, this was just after the war was winding down. Recruitment was steady but demand was down, so he basically said you have to be perfect medically and physically to make it.

Things may be different for medicine, since I assume there's no weapons and firearms training (correct me if I'm wrong). HPSP scholarship is something that I plan on looking into next year, so I will find out eventually whether things are different. Thanks again.

 

[AlfonsTheGuru]

Besides struggling to find someone to love you in spite of your toe thumb, you should be fine professionally.

wtf?

 

[hmockingbird]

Some of the bones in my wrists are fused and I can't supinate my hands. I have trouble opening jars/bottle caps and my hand tires easily. Basically a lot of the work people normally do with their wrist, I do with my shoulder. Besides being a bad practice patient when we were doing supination range of motion I was fine 😉 I was very worried about suturing but I found ways to adapt. For our intubation simulation, I was shown how to do it using my shoulder and after that got it on the first try. You'll find ways to adapt, I wouldn't be worried about it!

 

[jkmmln91]

Once worked with an orthopaedic hand surgeon whose 3 middle fingers were basically congenitally absent. The other surgeons said they never really noticed in the OR since they found a way to do everything needed of them. I'm sure it took plenty of practice to get to that point, but it shouldn't slow you down.