What happens to the double epiphysis in the hand?

We reviewed the x-ray films of 399 patients with open epiphyses and carefully examined the records of the 65 cases found to have extra epiphyses. Extra epiphyses did not appear or fuse early. Bone growth did not appear to be affected greatly with a double epiphysis, although fractured bones grew longer. Any long bone in the hand can have an abnormal epiphysis, but the anomaly occurs more often in the index and thumb metacarpals. Double epiphyses are more common among children with other congenital abnormalities. If a double epiphysis is present in a phalanx, some type of syndrome or other anomaly is probably present.