Dermatoglyphs in skeletal dysplasias.

Finger and palm print patterns (dermatoglyphs) are formed in very early pregnancy, at about the same time the limbs are developing, and their formation probably depends upon the surface contours of the palms and soles during morphogenesis. Dermatoglyphs are useful in skeletal dysplasias for the detection and study of syndactyly and symphalangism, for dating the onset and the dysplasias, for demonstrating and dating asymmetry, and sometimes for providing specific diagnostic features.