Simian crease

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Simian crease

Overview

Treatment

Simian crease

Definition:

A simian crease is a single line (crease) that runs across the palm of the hand. People normally have three creases in their palms.

Alternative Names:

Single palmar crease

Considerations:

Prominent creases (called flexion creases) appear on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. The palm normally has three flexion creases. Sometimes, the two horizontal creases fuse to form a single crease. This is called a single palmar crease, or simian crease.

Many structures develop in the fetus in the first few months of gestation. Palmar creases develop early, by the 12th week of life. Some abnormalities in palmar creases indicate problems with development and are associated with disorders like Down syndrome. However, a simian crease appears in approximately 1 out of 30 people. Males are twice as likely as females to have this condition.

Common Causes:

A simian crease is often a normal finding, occurring in about 3% of the population. It may also be associated with:

Review Date: 5/10/2006
Reviewed By: Daniel Rauch, MD, FAAP, Director, Pediatric Hospitalist Program, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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